Making Sense of the

Internet
by Mann Rentoy

www.mannrentoy.com
 How are you connected?

Email 42
YM 49
Facebook 61

Multiply 6
 What do you usually do when
you’re online?
Facebook 47
Research 49
Email 29
Studying with friends 6
 What do you usually do when
you’re online?
Watch videos 47
Online Games 53
Surfing whatever 34
Homework 42
Would you consider yourself
ADDICTED to the Internet?
NO 51
YES 35
 In a week, how much time are
you online:
 1-2 Hours 12
 2-3 20
 4-5 7
 6-8 11
 9-11 8
 12-14 10

 15-20 3

 More than 20 3
Are there rules at home about
the use of Internet?
NO 17
YES 71
Did you visit a pornographic
website in the last 1 month?
NO 78
YES 10
 Positive Side
 Accessing information, writing stories
and research papers
 Learning programs to teach or
reinforce skills in math, language,
reading and other subjects
 Softwares that allow children to draw
pictures, create visual works of art
and self-expression
 Positive Side
 Quicktrax and DJ Megamix to create
original soundtracks
 Communication and networking:
email, YM, facebook, friendster,
Multiply, etc.
 Writing and expression of oneself
through blogging
Internet Facts
 Notice
 The following facts are
retrieved from the Internet
in April 2009 and the data
will change rapidly
 World Population

• There are almost 7,000,000,000

(seven billion) humans on earth

Source:
 Kids Population

 Almost 2,000,000,000 (two billion)

or 27% of the world population are
kids below 15 year olds

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children
 Internet Users
 Thereare more than 1,500,000,000
internet users world wide

Source:
 Websites

 Thereare more than 100,000,000

websites on the internet

Source: http://www.domaintools.com/internet-
 Kids Websites

 Thereare less than 100,000 kids

websites listed on Open Directory

Source: http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/
“Across the world there is a passionate
love affair between children and
computers . . . And more than
wanting [computer technology], they
seem to know that in a deep way it
already belongs to them. They know
they can master it more easily and
more naturally than their parents.
They know they are the computer
generation.”

 —Seymour Papert, The Connected Family

 •

Pornography Time Statistics

•Every second - $3,075.64 is being
spent on pornography.
•Every second - 28,258 internet users
are viewing pornography.
•Every second - 372 internet users are
typing adult search terms into search
engines.
•Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic
video is being created in the United
States.
 An industry of exploitation
 The largest consumer of
Internet pornography is
the 12-17 age group.

Internet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter

Review, 2004.

 Child pornography
generates $3 billion
annually.
Internet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review,
2004.
 Pornography a serious social evil
 Median age for the first use of
pornography:
boys: 11-13 girls: 12-14.
Your Children & Pornography: A guide for Parents, Tom Buford.
Tommera Press, 2001.

 47.78percent of families said

pornography is a problem in their
home.
Focus on the Family Poll, 1 October, 2003.
 Pornography a serious social evil
 According to pastors, the 8 top sexual issues
damaging to their congregation are: 57%
pornography addiction, 34% sexually active
never-married adults, 30% adultery of married
adults, 28% sexually active teenagers, 16%
sexual dissatisfaction, 14% unwed pregnancy,
13% sexually active previously married adults,
and 9% sexual abuse.
More Sex, Please. Christianity Today International, Winter 2005. &
Compulsivity, Volume 12.1, 2005.
 Internet Pornography Statistics
Country Revenue Per Capita
(Billions)

China $27.40 $27.41

South Korea $25.73 $526.76
Japan $19.98 $156.75
US $13.33 $44.67
Australia $2.00 $98.70
UK $1.97 $31.84
Italy $1.40 $24.08
Canada $1.00 $30.21
Philippines $1.00 $11.18
 21st Century
Parenting Challenges
in a Wired World:
Cyberbullying, Sexting and More
than Just Internet Sites
 What are your biggest fears for
your child in this wired world?
1. Predators meeting my child online and
doing something awful
2. My credit card number being stolen after
child buys something (without my
permission)
3. My child sharing family information with
strangers
4. My child seeing graphic porn or gruesome
photos and being traumatized
5. My child taking an indecent photo and
sharing it with others
6. Other things?
What the Task Force Found
 Most Victims
– Risk takers
– Troubled teens
– Broken homes or little parental
involvement
– Go willingly to meetings
– Just as likely to be at risk off-
line
 Cyberbullying
 Chat, IM and email
are most commonly
used
 ALL of these are
included in social
networks
 Initial reactions are
frustration, anger,
sadness
 30-85% victimized  Progressive reactions
 5% reported to are anxiety, fear,
parents physical illness,
 About 50% tell absenteeism, violence,
friends or suicude
Stop Cyberbullying Toolkit
 Facebook and Other Social
Networks
Check the privacy settings
When children are grade 5
or older, do it together
“Google” yourself and your
child and see what is said
 Facebook and Other Social
Networks
Apply basic etiquette to
the new medium
Once posted, it’s always
available
 Parenting in a WW
Know what your children are
doing
Work with them to discuss
limits, responsibilities
Talk about problems from the
news, from work, from others
(without revealing a neighbor’s
name)
 Parenting in a WW
What happens if they cross
the line?
– Lose cell phone for a month? A semester?
– Get additional chores?
Enforce the punishment,
however light it is. Be
consistent.
 Parenting in a WW
– Some kids will push the limits;
others observe and don’t.
– Ask kids to suggest the guidelines
and punishments; they may
actually be tougher on themselves
than you would be!
– Talk with others and decide what
the “community” does and what
you will do.
– Discuss with your children. Their
actions have consequences!
 Increase Communication with
Distant Relatives and Friends
 Facebook friends with Grandma, Aunt Tilly
 You are the parent. You pay the bills. You
can see what they are doing!
 Encourage appropriate communication with
known individuals, not “I’m going to have a
thousand friends!”
“Ireally want to move to
Antarctica—I’d want my cat
and Internet access and I’d
be happy.”

—16-year-old HomeNet participant

 Some Internet Tips
 Place your computer in an open
room with the monitor facing out.
This allows you to see and control
what is occurring on the Internet.
 Educate your children about the
Internet, both the positives and the
potential dangers.
 Some Internet Tips
 Bookmark child-friendly web sites. This
allows your children to easily get to safe
sites that they have used before.
 Teach your children that Internet safety
means never giving out personal
information over the Internet.
 Share your Internet child safety
experiences, both good and bad, with
others.
 Some Internet Tips
 Teach your children to refrain from
chat rooms.
 Teach children to crash and tell. If
they encounter a bad experience, they
should feel comfortable in immediately
turning off the computer and talking
with a parent about the experience.
 Know the parents of your children's
friends.
 Principle

Take control.
 www.gamerdad.com

 www.screenit.com

 www.mediaed.org

 www.futureofchildren.org
Making Sense of the
Internet
by Mann Rentoy

www.mannrentoy.com
 Symptoms of Computer
Addiction
 Most of non-school hours are spent
on the computer or playing video
games.
 Falling asleep in school.

 Not keeping up with assignments.

 Worsening grades.
 Symptoms of Computer
Addiction
 Lying about computer or video game use.
 Choosing to use the computer or play video
games, rather than see friends.
 Dropping out of other social groups (clubs or
sports).
 Irritable when not playing a video game or
on the computer.
 Symptoms of Computer
Addiction
Physical symptoms:
 Carpal tunnel syndrome.

 Sleep disturbances

 Back, neck aches

 Headaches

 Dry eyes

 Failure to eat regularly or neglect personal

hygiene
 Principle

Internet
addiction is
damaging.