The state of Virginia has passed a law requiring schools to teach internet safety as part of the curriculum, reports the Washington Post:
“The measure’s sponsor, Del. William H. Fralin Jr. (R-Roanoke), said he wrote the bill after his oldest son turned 10 and started competing with his parents for computer time. It raised a question in my mind,” he said. “We teach our kids not to talk to strangers. We teach our kids not to take candy. But in today’s world on the Internet, not only can you be talking to strangers without supervision, but you can be talking to someone you think is not a stranger, but who is one. There needs to be some sort of basic training on that.”
related: BBC Chat Guide (includes classroom materials for teachers as well as information for children, teens and parents)