Internet Safety Reflection

I skimmed all of the articles, but I chose to read the article by Elder Bednar entitled "Things As They Really Are" in depth. I loved this article! I just love how he pointed out that Satan doesn't have a body, so he does everything he can to destroy ours. It is a sad realization, but it is true. Satan is going to tempt us and try to make us misuse our bodies. We cannot succumb to the pressures the world puts on us. Technology can be used for great things, but it can also be very harmful. Fidelity is required to enter the Lord's house. We must stay fortified and not desecrate our wonderful bodies.

The video resources were useful as well. I watched a few videos on YouTube. One was about how to protect a family from internet filth. It discussed the importance of putting a computer in the main part of the house. Also, checking the internet history regularly is good. Putting password protection can be a wonderful tool. Also, just make sure you are open with your children about the dangers that are out there. Make a plan about what to do if something pops up on the screen or if they are tempted to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable. And don't only talk about it...role play it. Practice together how to turn off the monitor.

The thing I learned most from the reading and video was that it is very much just a matter of awareness as to the safety of the computer. If a parent or a teacher is aware of what his/her children are doing as they are using the internet, the children will be much safer. Open communication is crucial, and making children aware of the dangers is important.

For my experience, I talked to a woman in my ward. She only has one more child left at home, but this child is exposed to much more technology than her older children were. She already knew that internet safety was important and that there was so much filth out there. I gave her a few statistics about the impact of chat rooms and pornography on today's society. She was shocked. She did share with me the fact that in her home the internet is password protected and that her kids can't get on the internet without her permission. One thing she said she is now going to do is check the internet history more regularly so she can make sure her kids are being safe.