Safe Sanctuary
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Safe Sanctuaries and Technology

Youth and children have great affinities and knowledge of the newest technology and how to use it! As adults responsible for their well-being, we must be knowledgeable about technology to protect our children.

A few web sites that provide helpful information:
FBI Guidelines to Internet Safety
Safe Eyes Software
Pew Research Center—Social Networking Information

Social Networking Sites
These are sites where youth and adults use the internet to connect to people they know. They are able to "friend" people on these sites and read status updates regarding the daily lives of those friends. Users are able to post pictures, join or create groups that solicit support, and update their own status so others may know what is happening in their lives. Younger users should be taught about the dangers of posting too much personal information on a profile page, providing too much contact information, and accepting or sending friend requests of someone not known personally.

Popular social networking sites:
Twitter
Facebook
MySpace

Cyberstalking / Cyberbullying
Teach children and youth to use the internet and social networks as a form of communication—not a place to bully or pick on others. You may feel safe because you are sitting behind your computer sharing confidential information or saying something that could hurt someone else. Words can be extremely hurtful, and we should teach our children and youth to be responsible for what they say online that could harm themselves or others.

Photos
Don’t post photos of the children or youth members without parents' permission. Youth and children should not post pictures from conference events on their social networking sites. A good idea is to have one person responsible for taking photos, then making and distributing CDs for youth group event attendees. Youth and children could possibly manipulate pictures they make in a harmful manner, so responsible adult awareness and supervision is crucial. 

Communication with Children and Youth
Get prior permission from parents to communicate with children or youth by E-mail, cell phone, instant message, or text. If you E-mail your youth, make sure to blind carbon copy. Send messages at appropriate times—youth or children in school shouldn't be distracted by reading your text messages.

Computers in the Church
If computers in your church are made accessible to children and youth, they should have cyber safety blocks to deny access to certain web sites. Adults should always monitor activity on church computers, and key words should be blocked from internet searches.

Safety Tips for Children and Youth

  1. Online communication with people not personally known should never take place
  2. Never give out personal information or identification
  3. Stick to web sites you are personally knowledgeable about
  4. Tell an adult if someone online makes you uncomfortable or asks to meet you in person
  5. Never share your passwords except with your parents
  6. Never agree to meet personally with someone you only know from online communication
  7. Only accept friends that you know personally on social networking sites
  8. Don’t respond to technology contact from strangers
  9. Stay out of online chat rooms
  10. Alter pictures of yourself so that school uniform, church logo, or any other any identifying information is not visible before posting

Adapted from Joy Thornburg Melton’s Book “Safe Sanctuaries” p. 81-55