Week 13: Internet Safety- Reading and Watching

1. What article did you choose to read for your fourth article?
I chose to read “Setting Family Standards for Entertainment” (Ensign, Jun 2001, 26) by Carla Dalton, under the topic of 'Media'. In this talk, Sister Dalton explains how important it is to set a good consistent example of proper media use yourself. By not talking on the phone too long, spending late nights on the internet, etc., your children can see healthy ways to use technology and media. She also explains how it is also important to monitor your children's choices. Be aware of what your children are doing and teach them correct media guidelines. She concludes by informing us to just leave the bad stuff alone. Anything that looks explicit or immoral or violent, don't just fast forward during those parts- just leave it alone entirely.
2. What were the most important things you learned from the readings?
Some of the important things I learned from Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk "Let Our Voices Be Heard" (Ensign, Nov. 2003, 16) was that if we chose to watch the tv shows or movies that "the trendy, the titillating, the tawdry" we will then eventually follow those patterns in life. Even though we watch it and feel we are far from those lives, we will find ourselves wanting those lives and acting like those people. I also learned in the "Provident Living Guidelines Regarding Internet Safety : Pornography" that one of the 10 ways to safeguard your home from immoral things on the internet is to teach your family that when you get on the internet you should have a specific purpose- don't just log on and wander aimlessly through the internet. This wandering can eventually lead you to inappropriate sites which can cause to you keep going back to those sites. I really liked this idea. When you have a specific goal in mind when you get on the internet you get what you need done- this way you save time and protect yourself from inappropriate sites.
3. How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?
In "Technology and a House of Learning" by Charles and Dawn Graham it is said that a great way to safeguard your home from immoral and improper use of technology and media is to provide positive and fun technological activities such as: creating a family blog and encouraging your children to post on it or creating family videos together and watching them. This is something that I will definitely remember when I am a parent and a teacher. In order to protect my children and students from inappropriate uses of media and technology I need to set an example and show them how technology can be used for positive activities and for good. Also, Elder M. Russell Ballard stated, "If we do not make good choices, the media can devastate our families and pull our children away from the narrow gospel path." This is also something that will influence my actions as a parent and teacher of children and youth because of the eternal implications.
4. How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?
What I have learned from these readings can help me be a better example to my family and to my friends. I can chose to not watch the popular and trendy tv shows and I can chose to not aimlessly surf on the internet during class. Besides setting an example, I can inform them. The more they know about what dangers are out there, the more prepared they can be to combat them.