www.HIS.Space.com - Our Youth and the Internet
by contributing writer Elena Kerasiotis

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Grosse Pointe Woods - MI, Father Michael Varlamos and Father Tom Michalos and youth leadership from throughout the Metropolis enthusiatically welcomed Metropolis of Detroit, Youth and Young Adult Ministries Director, Eva Kokinos. Her topic was extremely relevant, www.HIS.space.com - Our Youth and the Internet. She began her presentation with some impressive statistics regarding Internet usage by teens provided by a survey conducted by Children's Advocate John Walsh, the National Center for missing & Exploited Children and Cox Communications.

"Key findings:
Teen Internet use and attitudes about safety present potential risks, but they also reveal opportunities for education and highlight a critical role for watchful parents and guardians:

Teens continue to be active online but some still engage in risky behavior:

Teens have established a significant presence on social networking web sites:

61% of 13- to 17-year-olds have a personal profile on sites such as MySpace,
Friendster, or Xanga. Half have posted pictures of themselves online.

Older teens (16- to 17-year-olds) and girls represent the majority of youths who use the Internet for social interaction, meeting friends, and networking.

However, many have also been exposed to the accompanying potential risks.

14% have actually met face-to-face with a person they had known only through the Internet (9% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 22% of 16- to 17-year-olds).

30% have considered meeting someone they've only communicated with online.

71% reported receiving messages online from someone they don't know.

45% have been asked for personal information by someone they don't know.

When teens receive messages online from someone they don't know, 40% usually reply to and chat with that person.

Only 18% said they tell a parent or guardian that they received a message from s someone they don't know.

Many teens consider their online behavior to be safe
One out of five teens reported that it is safe (i.e. "somewhat" or "very safe") to share personal information on a public blog or networking site.

As well, 37% of 13- to 17-year-olds said they're "not very concerned" or "not at all concerned" about someone using personal information they've posted online in ways they haven't approved." http://www.netsmartz.org/pdf/cox_teensurvey_may2006.pdf

Kokkinos goes on to describe abbreviations online that speed conversation. She offered the group a pop quiz, to see how many of the participants were familiar with Internet shorthand.
LOL - Laughing out loud, BRB - Be right back, POS - Parent over shoulder and ASL - Age/Sex/Location were some of the examples, provided from her extensive hand out which included a 6 page dictionary of messaging abbreviations. Many in the group were admittedly quite unfamiliar with even the most common abbreviations.

The bottom line: Parents must engage in dialogue with their children. They must ask the hard questions and they must remain involved. Family time is a must. She provided a link to www.safekids.com Kids Rules for Online Safety, which should be shared with teens.

Do not give out personal address information online.

I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable

I will never agree to get to together with someone I meet online without first checking with my parents.

I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.

I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable.

I will not access areas or break Internet rules established by my parents without their consent.

I will not give my Internet password to anyone (not even my best friend) other than my parents.

I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that might jeopardize my families privacy.

I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts others or is against the law.

I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them about the Internet, computers and other technology.

It is obvious from the simplicity of the rules above that younger children are using the Internet and that it is the parent's responsibility to instill appropriate values for etiquette and usage.

Finally, Ms. Kokkinos shared some of the good news about Internet usage.

It provides helpful information
It allows Orthodox Youth to remain connected, i.e. Ionian Village
It is a platform for expressing creativity, activism and individuality
It provides the forum for discussion
Access to relevant sites developed to educate and guide Greek Orthodox Youth. www.Youthministry.com and http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/youth/

Following the lecture, Kokkinos did a hands-on tour of www.myspace.com and provided examples of different sites and how to best guide our children to create "safe" sites. And finally, she encouraged everyone to remain ever vigilant when sharing information online.

Ms. Kokkinos advised that she is available to present her lecture through out the Metropolis. Malista encourages youth leaders who were unable to attend the sessions to contact her at the Metropolis of Detroit to schedule at 248-823-2411 or by email at youth@detroit.goarch.org.

Malista!