__________________________________________Ask the DA
Several months back, I replied in this space to a letter from a reader who expressed concern about the amount of the time spent by her youngster on the computer each day.  My response to her letter is repeated below. More and more, we hear stories about the Internet and its potential to have a damaging impact on our children.  In response to a growing concern, I have asked my staff to launch a new program to address this important issue of Internet safety.  A cadre of trained attorneys from my office who are knowledgeable about cyber-crimes will be dispatched to schools throughout Brooklyn in order to educate administrators, teachers and children in these matters.  If you have any questions or you wish to have my staff make a presentation to your school or PTA, please contact Frank Laghezza, my Special Counsel to the Schools, at
718-250-3073. 
 

You are right to be concerned about the time your child spends online.  It seems that everyday we hear about another Internet-related tragedy.   Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to this medium, and not always in ways we might expect. Awhile back, a member of my staff was contacted by a concerned parent regarding an Internet site describing the sexual behaviors (real or imagined) of scores of New York City high school teens.  The victims of this defamatory site, mostly young women, were identified on the site by name, age and school.   My office’s investigation into this matter led to the eventual closing down of this site.  Additionally, my staff contacted the administrators of the named schools and offered our assistance in speaking with their faculties regarding this topic.

Ensuring Internet safety must be a collaborative effort on a number of levels.  Parents must first educate themselves about computers and the Internet in order to learn where potential pitfalls and dangers lie.  They must then collaborate with their children to set limits on Internet usage – both with respect to the amount of time their children spend online as well as restrictions regarding certain sites and behaviors.  Parents, educators and law enforcement officials must work together to devise the best methods for teaching children about appropriate use of the Internet.  Schools which require their students to use computers for schoolwork are especially responsible for providing instruction regarding safe and responsible usage.   

The Internet is unquestionably a marvelous and revolutionary tool with the potential to educate our youth in ways never before imagined.  At the same time, it can pose serious risks to our children.  The safe and responsible use of the Internet by children and young adults is a matter of great concern to my office.  I strongly recommend that parents and educators alike speak directly to children about appropriate online behaviors.   
 

For additional information visit www.brooklynda.org. To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.