Presentation - USYSA Region IV

							     Soccer
in a digital world
       An overview




 US Youth Soccer Risk Management Committee
      Meeting Purpose
            to:
          Inform you
         Educate you
to run your States, Leagues & Clubs
                in the
      DIGITAL WORLD
Different Channels to Monitor:
       •   Websites
       •   Online chat
       •   Email
       •   Blog sites
       •   Social networking
       •   Mobile text messaging
Who is Online?
• 71% of American adults go online
• 93% of American teens ages 12 to 17 use the
  internet
• 87% of all parents are online
• 73% of all families have broadband @ home
• 68% of online Americans have home
  broadband
• 7% of teens do not use the internet
Club/Team Websites
• Technology exists for almost any team to
  create its own website.
  – Create using website design templates or
    packaged software (eteamz, school, business or
    privately sponsored sites).

• The Risks?
  – Many of these team web sites can be used by
    those who would prey on our children to identify,
    single out, and make contact with a victim –
    whether at home or during soccer events.
Example: Too Much Info
10/2/2007 - Important information
   There will not be practice tomorrow (Wednesday). Thursday is a
   game in Novi. The game begins at 5:30pm. Please have your
   daughter there between 4:15pm and 4:30pm. They are wearing
   the black uniform. There may be practice on Friday depending
   on how Thursday goes.
   If you have not paid your August payment, please so
   immediately, the next statements are coming soon!
(Game/Practice sites were listed in another area on the site)
   9/29/2007 - Practice on Sunday!!!!!
   Congratulations on the convincing win over Brighton!
   Also, if Ashley use to text your daughter changes in the
   schedules, please have her resend Ashley her number. Her
   phone died and we were unable to retrieve the numbers.
   Ashley's cell is 888-555-1234. Please e-mail me to let me know
   you received this, if there is someone you know that may not
   check their e-mail, please let them know.
Example: Just a Name
A unique name from a roster and a quick search:
• Her first, last name, and approximate age based on her team.
• Her jersey number and a team photo with her image.
• By Googling her name, a press photo was found on an unrelated
  article which confirmed which player she was in the team photo.
• Her parents first name, last name, and place of employment.
• Her school, teacher's name, and school address and schedule.
• A phone number to contact her mother.
• A photo of her father and her mother from the father's Facebook
  website.
How do kids communicate?
 • It’s a new language

 • And, it’s spoken in many places
   including chat rooms, text messaging &
   instant messaging by cell phones and
   computers
R U NtheNo about Chat?
LOL     LAUGH OUT LOUD
LMIRL   LET’S MEET IN REAL LIFE
POS     PARENT OVER SHOULDER
BRB     BE RIGHT BACK
BF      BEST FRIEND
IOW     IN OTHER WORDS
IMO     IN MY OPINION
LULAS   LOVE YOU LIKE A SISTER
TMI     TOO MUCH INFORMATION
WU      WHAT’S UP
YBS     YOU’LL BE SORRY
Email Communication
• Most email accounts aren't specifically
  designed for children.
• Email accounts allow anyone to send your
  child an email at any time – whether it’s
  spam (unsolicited commercial email) or
  communication by unknown parties –
  potential pedophiles.
Email Communication
• Parents have a responsibility to monitor
  kids’ emails to assure no inappropriate
  communication occurs.

• There are known communications
  between coaches and players that were
  deemed “too friendly”.
• Be aware!
Email Help by Legislation
• KIDS 2008
  – Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2008 or
    the KIDS Act of 2008 - Directs the Attorney General to:
  – (1) require sex offenders to provide to the National Sex Offender
    Registry all Internet identifiers (i.e., email addresses and other
    designations used for self-identification or routing in Internet
    communication or posting) used by such offenders;
  – (2) specify requirements for keeping Internet identifier
    information current;
  – (3) exempt Internet identifiers provided by a sex offender from
    public disclosure; and
  – (4) establish procedures to notify sex offenders of changes in
    requirements for providing Internet identifier information.
  – http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-431
Blog Sites
• A Blog1 Site is a Website, usually
  maintained by an individual with regular
  entries of commentary, descriptions of
  events, or other material such as graphics
  or video.




 1 –Blog. (2009, January 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:39, January 6, 2009, from
                    http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blog&oldid=262221554
Social Networking
                                                                       2
• A social network is a social structure made of
  nodes --generally individuals or organizations--
  that are tied by subjects such as values, visions,
  ideas, financial exchange, friendship, kinship,
  dislike, conflict or trade. “Soccer” could be a subject
   tying a network together.




 2 –Social network. (2009, January 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:37, January 6,
        2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_network&oldid=261912053
Social Networking
• Some familiar social networking sites:
  – MySpace

  – Facebook

  – Twitter

  – YouTube
Some thoughts to consider
• The focus of concerns over social networking sites has so far
  focused on incidents where online predators have used the
  sites to "groom" potential child victims for abuse.

• "It is much easier to be deceived or trashed on the Internet.
  Things spread a lot quicker online than off.

• The anonymity of the Web makes other people feel less
  inhibited about posting videos



              Online friendships can offer a false sense of security
       http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/citpat/index.ssf?/base/features-
                 1/1226228704295630.xml&coll=3&thispage=1
Example from Facebook:

ODP sucked a**, it's nothing but full
 of stuck up b******. And they can't
 handle when someone better
 comes along and takes their best
 friends spot on the team...




              Online friendships can offer a false sense of security
       http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/citpat/index.ssf?/base/features-
                 1/1226228704295630.xml&coll=3&thispage=1
Concerns in Online Safety
Sphere
             • Inappropriate contact
               – Strangers
               – Bullies
             • Inappropriate content
               – Exposure
               – Prevention
                  courtesy of Richie Diesterheft
 Cyber-Bullying
• Cyber-bullying refers to the new, growing practice of using
  technology to harass, or bully, someone else.

• Bullies are no longer restricted to methods such as physical
  intimidation, postal mail, or the telephone.

• Now, developments in electronic media offer forums such as
  email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos to
  add to the arsenal. Computers, cell phones, and PDAs are
  new tools that can be applied to an old practice.


      Cyber Security Tip ST06-005 Dealing with Cyberbullies
          http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-005.html
Cyber-Bullying
• Forms of cyber-bullying can range in severity from cruel or
  embarrassing rumors to threats, harassment, or stalking.

• It can affect any age group; however, teenagers and young
  adults are common victims, and cyberbullying is a growing
  problem in schools.


• One third of US online teenagers have been victims of
  cyber-bullying according to research by the Pew Internet
  Project.

      Cyber Security Tip ST06-005 Dealing with Cyberbullies
          http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-005.html
Cyber-Bullying
• The most common complaint from teens was about
  private information being shared rather than direct
  threats.

• Girls were more likely than boys to be targets and teens
  who share their identities online are the most vulnerable,
  the survey found.

• But, teenagers still think that the majority of bullying
  happens offline.

http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/parents/index.html
Cyber-Bullying Statistics
• Some 32% of teenagers questioned had
  experienced one of more of the following:
  • 15% of teens reported having private material
    (IM, txt, email) forwarded without permission
  • 13% had received threatening message
  • 13% said someone had spread a rumor about
    them online
  • 6% had someone post an embarrassing picture of
    them online without permission
  Cyber-bullying gathers pace in US ; June 28, 2007
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6245798.stm
Contact – Bullies
   • Girls, particularly older girls, report more
     online bullying; 38% of all online girls
     reported experiencing some type of
     online bullying
   • Social network users are also more likely
     to report online bullying – 39% of SNS
     users have experienced it.
   • But most teens (67%) think bullying
     happens more OFFLINE
                                                    24
How to protect yourself
• Be careful where you post personal
  information - Limit the number of people who
  have access to your contact information or details
  about your interests, habits, or employment.
  Reduce your exposure to bullies.
• Avoid escalating the situation - Responding
  with hostility is likely to provoke a bully. Consider
  ignoring the issue. If you change your account
  and continue to get messages, you may have a
  stronger case for legal action.
How to protect yourself
• Document the activity - Keep a record of any
  online activity (emails, web pages, instant
  messages, etc.), including relevant dates and
  times. In addition to archiving an electronic
  version, consider printing a copy.
• Report cyber-bullying to the appropriate
  authorities - If you are being harassed or
  threatened, report the activity to the local
  authorities.
 Contact - Strangers
Definition of “complete stranger:” “…[someone] who has no
connection at all to you or any of your friends.”

      • 32% of online teens have been contacted
        online by a complete stranger.
      • Of teens who have been contacted, 23%
        say they were made scared or
        uncomfortable by the stranger contact.
      • Overall, 7% of online teens experienced
        disturbing stranger contact.
Contact – Strangers
   • Factors that predict a greater likelihood of
     online contact
      – Posting photos (49%)
      – Having a profile online (44%)
      – Female (39%)
      – Flirting via social networks (53%)
   • Factors that predict a greater likelihood of
     scary or uncomfortable online contact
      – Female (11% vs. 4% of males)
Contact -- Strangers
   • No association between stranger contact and any
     other content posted to online profiles

   • Social network users more likely to have been
     contacted by strangers, but not more likely to find
     that contact scary or uncomfortable

   • Having internet monitoring software (but not
     filters) is correlated with lower reported levels of
     contact by someone unknown to the teen or
     his/her friends.
Contact – Strangers
How did teens respond to stranger contact?
  – Of teens who were contacted by a stranger:
    • 65% just ignored it or deleted it

    • 21% responded so they could find out more about
      the person

    • 8% responded and asked to be left alone

    • 3% told an adult or someone in authority

                                             December 6, 2007   30
Content – Access
   • 42% of online youth 10-17 have been exposed to
     online pornography (Wolak et al, 2007)
      Some steps families take:

      – 74% of families have their computers in a
        public location
      – 65% of parents say they check up on their
        teens after they go online
      – 53% of families filter
      – 45% of families have monitoring software
        on the computer that their child uses
Content – Access
  • Parents more likely to report rules around
    content viewed rather than time spent with media
     – Content rules:
        • 77% of parents have rules about what TV
          shows their child can watch

        • 68% of parents have rules about what
          internet sites their child can or cannot visit

        • 67% of parents have rules about video
          games their child can play
Content – Access
 • More than half of parents have rules for time
   spent with media in the home
   – 58% have rules about how much time their
     child can spend watching TV
   – 58% have rules about how much time their
     child can spend playing video games (rises
     to 64% of households w/gamers)
   – 55% have rules about how much time their
     child can spend online
Content – Access
 • Parents also have rules about information that
   may be shared online
   – 68% of parents of online teens say that they
     have rules about what kind of information
     their child may share over the internet
 • Only 7% of parents have no rules about media
   use at all
FBI’s Kids Internet Safety Tips
• Never to give out personal information such as
  name, home address, school name, or phone
  number in a chat room or on bulletin boards.
• Never send a picture of themselves to someone
  they chat with on the computer without their
  parent's permission.
• Never write to someone who has made them
  feel uncomfortable or scared.
FBI’s Kids Internet Safety Tips
• Do not meet someone or have them visit them
  without the permission of their parents.
• Tell their parents right away if they read anything
  on the Internet that makes them feel
  uncomfortable.
• People online may not be who they say they are.
  Someone who says that "she" is a "12-year-old
  girl" could really be an older man.
What is cyber security?
• It seems that everything relies on computers and the
  Internet now — communication (email, cell phones),
  entertainment (digital cable, mp3s), transportation (car
  engine systems, airplane navigation), shopping (online
  stores, credit cards), medicine (equipment, medical
  records), and the list goes on.

• How much of your daily life relies on computers? How
  much of your personal information is stored either on
  your own computer or on someone else's system? Cyber
  security involves protecting that information by
  preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks.
 Are you really safe..?
• On Facebook, for instance, applications can only be
  downloaded if a user checks a box allowing its
  developers to "know who I am and access my
  information," which means everything on a profile,
  except contact info.

• Given little thought, agreeing to the terms has become a
  matter of routine for over 140 million Facebook users
  worldwide who use applications to spruce up their pages
  and to flirt, play and bond with friends online.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353121,00.html
 Are you really safe..?
• Every time you download or install an application – such
  as a game or gadget – you may be freely handing over
  personal information to perfect strangers.

• This happens on a growing number of social networking
  sites that are designed by third-party developers for
  anything from games and sports teams to trivia quizzes
  and virtual gifts.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353121,00.html
How Anonymous Are You?
• What information is collected?
   – When you visit a web site, a certain amount of information is
     automatically sent to the site. This information may include the
     following:
       • IP address
       • Domain name
       • Page visits
   – If a web site uses cookies, the organization may be able to
     collect even more information, such as your browsing
     patterns, which include other sites you've visited. If the site
     you're visiting is malicious, files on your computer, as well
     as passwords stored in the temporary memory, may be at
     risk.
What are the risks?
• There are many risks, some more serious than
  others.
  –   Viruses erasing your entire system
  –   Someone breaking into your system and altering files
  –   Someone using your computer to attack others
  –   Someone stealing your credit card information and
      making unauthorized purchases.


 There is no 100% guarantee that even with the best
 precautions some of these things won't happen. You
 can take steps to minimize the chances.
Ways to Protect
Computer Security Capabilities
• Use Security Software Suites
   – Make sure you have robust security software that protects your
     computer against viruses, hackers, and spyware. It should also filter
     offensive content, pictures, and web sites. This software should be
     updated frequently, as new threats are emerging daily. Ideally, security
     that updates automatically.

• Use Parental Controls
   – Use options that filter and block inappropriate material. Of course, these
     tools have their limitations. Nothing can take the place of attentive and
     responsive parents who monitor their children when they are online.

• Create & use passwords that are difficult to crack
Best Practices
• Never log in with user names that reveal true identity or
   that are provocative
• Never reveal your passwords
• Never reveal phone numbers or addresses
• Never post information that reveals your identity
• Never post inappropriate photos or ones that may reveal
   your identity (for example: school names on shirts)
• Never share any information with strangers met online
• Never meet face-to-face with strangers met online
• Never open attachments from strangers
             Final Thoughts
• Only a very small number of teens report
  uncomfortable online contact; most ably handle the
  contact by deleting or ignoring it
• Very little association between contact and
  information posted online
• Bullying is reported by same % of teens as stranger
  contact; and yet happens more offline
• Parents more likely to use non-technical methods of
  protection; rulemaking around content
• Balance promise of technology with pitfalls
• Safety in a mobile environment?