Internet Safety

1. The article I chose to read is entitled "Let our Voices be Heard" written by Elder Ballard.
2. The video resources that I watched depicted stories of cyber-bullying. I watched videos about consequences of gossip spreading through the internet, the reprocussions a boy suffered when he rated girls in his school on a website, and a girl who got her email account hacked into. I also watched a couple videos on girls that became involved with older, dangerous men through IM relationships. I watched several other videos with adolescents who have been taken advantage of via negative means of the internet.
3. I actually got a lot out of watching these videos and reading the article by Elder Ballard. Elder Ballard's article enlightened me on the powerful effects that the internet can have on the family. He discussed how the influence of harmful media can deteriorate an individual as well as a family. The videos that I watched were poignant, especially since they were relayed in children's voices.
4. I interviewed my mom about cyber-bullying. She was completely aware of the subject and even told me a few things that I didn't know about it. Although she has had no personal experiences with cyber-bullying, she has been more than informed by talk-shows such as Tyra and Oprah. The stories that she told me were terrifying and I believe these stories has made her fearful of the internet in general. I reassured her that safety precautions as well as internet awareness can prevent a lot of these cyber catastrophes. I believe that we both came out of this experience better informed and more aware.