Keeping Arizona’s Kids Safe Online: Scottsdale Children’s Personal Injury Lawyer Shane L. Harward

Adult Guardians and Arizona School Authorities must Minimize Internet Risk

There are predators stalking online and making efforts to sexually molest children. As horrible as this risk may be, there are other everyday internet and online risks as well.

Since more and more schools are providing computer and Internet access, more and more children are being exposed to the most disturbing aspects of what is contained therein. Your child should not be exposed to disturbing images ever. They certainly should not be exposed to such images while using school property or while at school. Children can be deeply influenced by scenes of graphic sex and violence and if they are not appropriately monitored while online at school, someone must be held accountable.

If you feel your child has been stalked on the Internet or exposed to disturbing images or text while engaged in a school project online while at school, you may have a case for damages against the educational institution. To discuss your options and how you may be able to pursue adequate compensation to ensure that this does not happen to someone else, contactScottsdale Child Injury Attorney Shane L. Harward for the legal guidance that you need. Call 480-874-2918.

Schools, Daycares, Libraries and other Such Facilities Must Protect Arizona’s Children

Educational institutions should have safeguards in place that block certain types of content from children’s view. Unfortunately these safeguards can be faulty when they are working effectively so it is very important that small children are adequately supervised while online.

Extreme bullying has become a troubling trend in recent years. Sometimes the damage that is inflicted because of bullying is so severe it never heals. Some young people have even felt compelled to commit suicide as the result of bullying. There are many arenas in which bullying can occur but the Internet has opened up a new frontier of cruelty.  There have been studies reporting as many as 70% of kids ages 12-17 are victims of cyberbullying and cyber-harassment.  Cyber-harassment has been defined as a one-time or isolated occurrence of mean or rude online behavior; cyberbullying, on the other hand, has been defined as repeated attempts to harm or belittle by someone who is more powerful than the victim.

Several schools have a zero-tolerance bullying policy which includes both cyberbullying and cyber-harassment – does your child’s school?  We trust our children to educators and they have a responsibility to keep them safe when parents are not present. School safety should always be a priority. Too often, educational institutions fail in this capacity. Cyberbullying must be prevented and when it is not, school officials, as well as the culprit, should be held accountable especially when school computer equipment is used to facilitate the bullying and it occurs during school hours.