You can click the link below to read the original article, but it is also posted in part below and with minor edits since the seminar happened a long time ago. But the issue of these memes and their effect on young people has not gone away. This is one big reason why chain letters are so bad...
Cyber safety seminar for parents
Noosa News
Article was posted 20th Jul 2010 2:15 AM
A sick cyber chain letter depicting a so-called murdered girl complete with her bloody face sent to a Year Six Noosaville State School student was the catalyst for a powerful initiative to protect young people from the evil side of the internet.
Noosaville State School P & C Association president Margit Cruice said she was expecting at least a capacity roll-up of 350 concerned parents from all over Noosa to the Noosa J for the Cyber Safety Information Evening starting 7pm.
The night was sponsored by Bendigo Bank and Gold Buyers Australia and all attendees received free information to take home.
This was a free evening for people 18 and over, due to the confronting nature of much of the material that covers subjects including cyber threats, online bullying and the increasing scourge of chat room predators.
The Year Six Noosaville student was one of many sent the sinister message demanding it be mailed to 20 others otherwise the dead girl would come after them.
“It was really quite disturbing – the girl had trouble sleeping and it really took her a year to get over it,” Margit said.
“An adult might receive a message like that and just ignore it, but young people are not emotionally equipped to deal with these messages.”
She said a parent of the girl approached the school to do something and the response from parents was overwhelming.
“Rather than make this for just one school, we decided to open it up to all parents and schools in the area because it is such an important subject.”
“We cannot close our eyes – this is a very real issue confronting our kids and families.
Back to Why Chain Letters Are So Bad
Comment options: