NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
NetSmartz411 is a page specifically designed for parents. You can send detailed questions to experts, and get all the answers needed about the newest lingo used by kids or technology. You can even call 1-888-NETS411 and ask an expert a question over the phone. Parents and teachers, this resource is FREE and it is something you can actively be involved with. If you take the time to learn the latest trends of the virtual like gaming, social networking, sexting, video sharing, photo sharing and blogging it may prevent a potentially negative situation in your child’s life.
If you have questions, or need more resources, please visit the RESOURCE section of this site or if you have a specific question you would like to ask, please visit the ASKMICHELLE section.
Hundereds gathered this weekend to remember and celebrate the life of Phylicia Barnes. Investigators in Baltimore say she went missing over the Christmas break and her body was found on April 22. She was floating naked 50 miles away from where she went missing in the Sesquehanna River. Phylicia’s death has since been ruled a homicide, and no further details have been released. Phylicia was living in Monroe, N.C., but planning to graduate high school early and attend Towson University.
Phylicia Barnes (missing)
Five facts about this case:
1) Phylicia Barnes, 16, disappeared on the afternoon of Dec. 28 from a Northwest Baltimore apartment.
2) The FBI joined the case early on and her cause of death has been ruled a homicide.
3) Dozens of areas in and around Baltimore were searched and on the day Phylicia’s body was found, another nude black male was pulled from the same river. He was spotted by boaters three miles south.
4) Phylicia is from Monroe, N.C., about 25 miles from Charlotte. Her goal was to move to Maryland when she finished with high school.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, people who have legitimate access to children are some of the same individuals who are producing child pornography. It is a federal crime to have child porn in your possession. The Cyber Tiplinewas created to report these types of crimes against children. You can call the tip center with information on people who manufacture, distribute or have child pornography in their possession or if you receive images in your e-mail.
If you know of children who are being recruited for these disgusting acts, please report that to the tip line as well.
It is also a federal crime to send obscene material to any child under the age of 16. Take a look at the helpful information under the Cyber Tipline to understand more about protecting the youth.
MTV spotlights sexting, explaining what it is and sharing true life stories of how it ruined some teen’s lives. It is true that many teens simply don’t understand that sexting is considered child pornography, and many parents don’t realize this practice even exists. However, there are serious repercussions.
A Thin Line highlights “Sexting in America” in parts I, II & III. This series is easy to watch for parents and teens. Richard Guerry with the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell phone Communication talks about how the proactive photos are often stolen and sold on a digital black market to drive underground websites. The moral is, if you don’t want the photo haunting you later in life, then don’t take the picture. MTV says 1 in 5 sexting messages sent are forwarded on to others.
A disturbing case continues to be on the hearts and minds of parents in Phoenix, Arizona. The FBI is on the hunt for a pediatrician who is accused of distributing child pornography. Dr. Emilio Luna, 40, was arrested in September when a federal grand jury brought down a five-count indictment against him.
According to the FBI’s website, “Dr. Luna, a Phoenix pediatrician, came to the attention of law enforcement when thousands of files from suspected child pornography were shared from his computer in a public peer-to-peer file sharing system. He was arrested on Wednesday, September 1 by federal agents. Following a detention hearing a few days later, he was released by order of the court, and is forbidden to have access to the Internet or children while under supervision of U.S. Pre-Trial Services.”
A few weeks after he was arrested agents say Luna cut off his ankle monitoring device and fled. He had permission to attend church services, and his car was found later that night abandoned in a Glendale, Arizona parking lot.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, people who have legitimate access to children are some of the same individuals who are producing child pornography. It is a federal crime to have child porn in your possession. The Cyber Tiplinewas created to report these types of crimes against children. You can call the tip center with information on people who manufacture, distribute or have child pornography in their possession or if you receive images in your e-mail.
If you know of children who are being recruited for these disgusting acts, please report that to the tip line as well.
It is also a federal crime to send obscene material to any child under the age of 16. Take a look at the helpful information under the Cyber Tipline to understand more about protecting the youth.
In an effort to keep children off of popular social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, Togetherville is stepping up to the plate to provide a safe area for kids to network. The new site allows children to play games and network in a “neighborhood” environment and teaches them how to use the technology to communicate safely online. Parents will build and monitor their child’s network, and other family members onFacebook are encouraged to interact with their younger family members online.
Togetherville is currently free, and they have a controlled environment where kids will interact with people they know in real life. What’s interesting is you can only sign your child up for Togetherville if you have a Facebook account. This partnership serves as a safeguard for the child site.
According to Togetherville’s site, applications are kid-size and ad free, “In Togetherville, kids can design logos, cards and collages to display on their profile or share with friends and family.” Kids can also watch videos. Togetherville’s site says, “All video content is pre-screened to be safe and age-appropriate.” Another fun feature is the drop down text messages called “quips.” This feature allows children to express thoughts and feelings and allows other kids to comment on the quips.
A program to help find missing children and elderly citizens has been credited with finding more than five children. A Child Is Missing, Inc. is a non-profit based out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida that provides a FREE notification system to communities when someone goes missing. This service fills in the gap that the Amber Alert doesn’t cover. For an Amber Alert to be activated in certain areas there has to be indication that an abduction took place, and a vehicle description must be given. There are different requirements in various states to actually activate an Amber Alert. Police departments and sheriff’s offices can join this new service that can reach out to citizens within minutes of when a child or adult goes missing.
Law enforcement can call the service, and the notifications will be sent. A technician will record a message of what the missing child or adult was last seen wearing, their last location and any known physical characteristics. The recording will also give key information on how to contact authorities.
MTV spotlights sexting, explaining what it is and sharing true life stories of how it ruined some teen’s lives. It is true that many teens simply don’t understand that sexting is considered child pornography, and many parents don’t realize this practice even exists. However, there are serious repercussions.
A Thin Line highlights “Sexting in America” in parts I, II & III. This series is easy to watch for parents and teens. Richard Guerry with the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell phone Communication talks about how the proactive photos are often stolen and sold on a digital black market to drive underground websites. The moral is, if you don’t want the photo haunting you later in life, then don’t take the picture. MTV says 1 in 5 sexting messages sent are forwarded on to others.
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
NetSmartz is a unique resource provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The safety approach this program offers is one-of-a-kind. The goal of the NetSmartz program is to team up with law enforcement, educators and parents to educate the safest practices on the web.
same individuals who are producing child pornography. It is a federal crime to have child porn in your possession. The 
