Eastland Middle School
Principal -Darcie Feltmeyer

601 South Chestnut Street
Shannon, IL 61078

Phone - 815-864-2300
Fax - 815-864-2281

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Social Smarts for Middle School Children on the Internet

The internet is full of people looking to meet and connect with other people.  Online social networks allow users to create a personal profile and share their information with other internet users.  There are many uses for social networks including meeting old friends, making new friends and learning about real people and their cultures.  This sort of opportunity and exploration introduces possibilities for danger just as social situations in real life can present. 

Parents need a lot of information and experience with life and the World Wide Web in order to make decisions and guide their children while keeping them safe as they interact socially online and in-person.

Facebook is a free social network that was started for college students.  Facebook is not for middle school students.  It is for students in high school and beyond.  Even parents of high school students need to consider supervision of their child’s use of Facebook:

Safety information at Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/safety/

Some sites are intended to help parents stay connected to their children and provide them with safer online opportunities as they chat and share text, photos and video:

Girl Ambition:  https://www.girlambition.com/

Disney Club Penguin:  http://www.clubpenguin.com/

Whyville: http://www.whyville.net/

Information for parents:

http://www.webwisekids.org/index.asp?page=parents

http://internetsafetyeducator.com/

http://www.facebookforparents.org/

http://www.terry-freedman.org.uk/artman/publish/article_1189.php