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Internet Safety
In today’s world, many people choose to communicate via the Internet and cell phones. Youth especially have embraced new technologies such as text messaging, social networking sites, and digital cameras to share information and connect with friends. However, without proper guidance, these types of communication technologies can be dangerous to a child’s physical and psychological well-being.
To help inform parents and educators about our children’s online activities and to assist in their efforts to educate our youth regarding responsible and safe online behavior, the Attorney General’s Office provides the following resources:
Internet Safety Training Modules
As a result of the Attorney General’s Cyber Safety Summit, Madigan created Internet Safety Training Modules to provide schools with the tools they need to fulfill requirements under the Illinois School Code for annual, age appropriate Internet safety instruction to students in grades 3-12. (105 ILCS 5/27-13.3) Each of these age appropriate training modules covers topics facing youth today, including online exploitation, sexting, cyberbullying, and piracy. The modules are divided into three grade level groupings: grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
The accompanying webinar walks educators through each of these modules to describe the information covered and explain how educators can use the modules to educate their students about safe cyber behavior.
Cyberbullying Web Site
As children have gained access to social networking sites and cell phones, today’s school bullies have expanded their ability to spread hurtful and humiliating messages to a large amount of people in record time. In response to this disturbing trend, the Attorney General created www.ebully411.com to provide parents, teachers, and students with the latest news and information about cyberbullying. It also features the E-Info Hotline, which is a phone- and Web-based resource staffed by the Attorney General’s Internet safety specialists to help victims and educate bullies as to the consequences of their actions.
Cyber Safety Focus Groups Report
In the spring of 2010, the Attorney General’s Office conducted a series of focus groups with over 60 youth in six different middle schools and high schools in urban, suburban and rural settings. In these conversations, we heard directly from youth about why they do what they do online and their recommendations on cyberbullying and other cyber safety issues. We have gathered the results of those focus groups in the enclosed report, “Cyberbullying: A Student Perspective.”
Cyberbullying: A Student Perspective 
Cyber Safety Survey: The Results
The Attorney General’s Office conducted a survey of more than 4,200 youth throughout Illinois to find out what types of communication technologies they are using, how they are using them, and what their experiences have been. The Cyber Safety Survey is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on the youth of Illinois.
Cyber Safety Survey: The Results
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