This was reinforced by a blog post I read today from the Breaking Free website.  The following is a list of strategies we can use to help us limit the time we spend on line.  These are from Seven Habits of Virtual Integrity by Dan Lohrmann.

• Set parameters for your Internet surfing tasks. Don’t just get lost in cyberspace. Schedule computer time: this will ensure you don’t use all your spare time surfing.

• If possible, limit your time online to certain times of day. Use technology that limits the times of day and the amount of time spent online.

• Close your e-mail and turn off your IM and RSS feeds if you don’t need them to be open.

• When doing Internet searches, have a goal in mind.

• Keep a running list of interesting links you uncover and return to them later.

• If you are easily tempted by things like Internet pornography, choose not to go online at vulnerable times (when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired). Find someone to hang out with instead.

• Schedule quality time with the people you love. Choose activities away from the gadgets and devices.

• Beware of how vacations and holidays can be eaten up by time online. Make plans to do something with others during these times.

There are many recommendations in the report that resonated with me.  Below are a few.

1. Avoid scare tactics.  Trying to scare our kids into doing the right thing is not an effective strategy.

2. Digital citizenship in grades K-12 should be a national priority.

3. There is no silver bullet fix.  Youth safety must be promoted through K-12 education AND parental awareness AND effective filtering and control software, etc…..

I encourage you to take a look at the report and draw your own conclusions.

Some time ago I wrote some material for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.  The goal was to produce a program that could be used at a local church to train the congregation on internet and cell phone safety issues.  The folks at GBOD did a wonderful job designing and implementing the final product.  I received my copies this week.

The Content on the CD includes: planning guide, teaching plans, handouts and a 30 minute movie presentation.  It is available on Amazon , the Upper Room, or from Cokesbury.

Here are a couple of stats that caught my eye.

54% of teens were texting daily in September of last year and half of teens send more than 50 messages a day.

I will say I’m not surprised.  For the past three months I’ve been filling in as interim principal for the JP Knapp Early College High School here in Currituck County.  The vast majority of students have cell phones and they know how to use them!  This has changed the whole landscape of investigating incidents that happen at school.  Twelve years ago when I was a high school principal it took at least a class period for news to circulate throughout the student body.  Now it is just seconds.  A student can leave my office, and before they get back to class, have texted groups of students with whatever the latest drama might be.  Not only that, now I don’t have to call as many parents because the students text their parents and the parents call me before I get the chance to call.

Gotta love cell phones!

The live binder is linked below.   The PowerPoint and Internet Safety Agreement are available by joining the Google Group.

One of the blogs that I follow with some regularity is FlowerDust.net.  I find Anne Jackson to be an honest and refreshing voice on issues of spirituality and responsibility.

She is currently in Moldova investigating the sex trafficking industry.  Regrettably, the poor economy in that country makes young women there  easy targets.    Please read her amazing story here.   Go ahead, read it now, I’ll wait.

This story made me wonder what the United Methodist Church is doing about this problem.  I found a resolution that was passed in 2004 entitled Abolition of Sex Trafficking.  Other organizations attacking this problem include the FaithTrust Institute,   HumanTrafficking.org, ECPAT International, and World Hope.   To view a video of World Hope International’s work in Cambodia click here.

According to a recent news report, it is girls.

“According to a study published on US Department of Health and Human Services’ website www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov, “girls were about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying…”

The website linked above has great resources for working with kids on cyberbullying issues.

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An American teenager has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after posing as a girl on Facebook to blackmail seven classmates into sex.

Anthony Stancl, 19, of Wisconsin, was accused of tricking more than 30 male classmates into sending him naked photos of themselves.”