A HOUSE RESOLUTION endorsing increasing Internet
safety awareness, endorsing an Indiana Internet Safety Day in
each community, encouraging the Public Education and
Government Channels to carry Internet safety awareness videos
and PSA's, and supporting the idea that Indiana state agencies,
schools, the media, businesses, non-profits, and other
organizations, as appropriate, be encouraged to support this and
other Internet safety awareness and educational initiatives.
Whereas, the use of computers and the Internet is becoming
increasingly important in our fast paced world; and
Whereas, the knowledge of how to use the Internet safely is vitally important to all Indiana residents that access the
Internet; and
Whereas, those that are not aware of how to access the
Internet safely are more likely to become victims or otherwise
be taken advantage of by unscrupulous or hateful individuals;
and
Whereas, youth are especially susceptible to being targeted
by Net Predators and Cyber Bullies; and
Whereas, Net Predators often pretend they are teens to
gain youths' trust, set up a face-to-face meeting, and then try to
harm the youths or force youths to do something they don't
want to do; and
Whereas, many youth do not understand the consequences
of inappropriate blogging or the posting of information on the
Internet, and that this information is being increasingly
collected by personnel departments and headhunters that
consider applicants for jobs, and that inappropriate
information that is associated with a person can impact that
person's ability to find a job for the rest of their life; and
Whereas, youths that feel uncomfortable when using the
Internet should be encouraged to talk to their parents or a
trustworthy adult; and
Whereas, hate websites often use a combination of truth
and lies to spread intolerance and falsehoods about religions,
races, politics, ethnicities, and even countries; and that a lack
of awareness of hate websites contributes to hate websites'
effectiveness at spreading lies and misinformation that impact
both youths and adults alike; and
Whereas, identity theft, computer viruses, password theft,
spam, and spyware target victims of all ages; and
Whereas, an understanding of identity theft, computer viruses, password theft, spam, and spyware enable Internet users to more safely utilize the Internet, that those that can safely and comfortably access the Internet will tend to become
more Internet saavy, and that those that can effectively utilize
the Internet and are Internet saavy will enhance their job skills
and life skills; and
Whereas, the Net Literacy Corporation, a youth empowered
501(c)(3), has created Safe Connects, an Internet safety
awareness and information initiative that is working together
with Indiana state agencies, the Indiana Department of
Education, the media, businesses, and non-profits to increase
Internet safety awareness; and
Whereas, earlier this year, Net Literacy student volunteers
have scripted and created ten Internet safety awareness Public
Service Announcements that were reviewed by the Indiana
Department of Education's Indiana School Safety Specialist
Academy; and
Whereas, recently, Net Literacy student volunteers have
scripted and created three 30 minute, age appropriate Internet
safety awareness television programs designed for 4th-6th
graders and their parents, 7th and 8th graders and their
parents, and 9th to 12th graders and their parents, that were
reviewed by the Indiana Department of Education's Indiana
School Safety Specialist Academy; and
Whereas, Net Literacy's student volunteers plan to make
this programming available at no cost to all Public, Education,
and Government Channels throughout the State of Indiana;
therefore
SECTION 1. That the Indiana House of Representatives encourage
Indiana state agencies, schools, the media, businesses, non-profits, and
other organizations, as appropriate, to support this and other Internet
safety awareness and educational initiatives.
SECTION 2. That the Indiana House of Representatives encourage
broadcasters and Indiana's Public, Education, and Government
Channels to carry the Internet safety these Public Service
Announcements, Net Literacy Internet safety awareness programs, and
other Internet safety awareness programming and information to
increase Internet Safety awareness throughout Indiana.
SECTION 3. That the Indiana House of Representatives support
Net Literacy's efforts to create an Indiana Internet Safety Day in each
community to help publicize the importance of Internet safety.
SECTION 4. That the Principal Clerk of the Indiana House of
Representatives shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Net Literacy.
DR 4838/DI jk