Phone and Internet Safety tips for counselors And other educators

1. The Dangers of Cyberspace: • How can we protect • our students? Phone and Internet Safety tips for counselors And other educators By: Amelia Clemmons and Erin Stokes, School Counselors

2. Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent, they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute. -G. Ballard

3. What Is Media? Media: the means of communication that reach or influence people widely Includes: TV, newspapers, books, magazines, movies, video games, the Internet, and cell phones The average 8-18 year old spends more time with media than they do in school or with parents—an average of 6.5 hours per day (over 45 hours a week)! (Common Sense Media, 2010)

4. HowKidsUseMedia: To do research or assignments To connect to the world To express themselves To play online games To create other media (blogs, videos, etc.) To download and stream content (iTunes, YouTube) To socialize (Common Sense Media, 2010)

5. MediaHasTakenthePlaceofTraditionalEntertainment Old Passed Notes CDs Board Games Journals Dolls New Text Messages MP3s Game Systems Blogs Avatars (Common Sense Media, 2010)

6. The Playground Has Changed, but… They are still exploring who they are They are still searching for connections and validation They are still being mean to each other They are still experimenting with risky behavior (Common Sense Media, 2010)

7. Technology and Cognitive Development • Characteristics of the developing brain: • Impulsive behavior • No consideration of long term consequences • Egocentrism • “Just because we can doesn’t mean • we should” • Technology usage should depend on • level of cognitive development

8. Areas of Concern: Internet Safety Social Networking Sites Text Messaging Cyber bullying

9. Internet Safety 93% of teens (12-17) go online. Of those who use the Internet, 80% use it once a week. Lenhart, A. (2010)

10. InternetSafety 1 in 5 kids 8 to 17 say they do things online that their parents would not approve of. (Knorr, 2010)

11. Why Internet Safety Matters… Lack of impulse control combined with online anonymity could lead middle schoolers toward dangerous behaviors. Because socializing is so important to young people, online interactions can become pretty intense. Teens are creating a digital footprint that can last a long time in cyberspace. “Distance” and childrens’ natural trust can lead them to forget that people met online are strangers!

12. Tracking Theresa

13. How do they get there? • Desktop and laptop computers at home, friends’ homes, work, libraries, stores, schools, Wi-Fi spots (McDonald’s, Schlotzky’s, etc.) • Smart Phones • Internet capable gaming systems (Nintendo DSi, Xbox, PS2)

14. Blogs The term is a shortened form of “web log”. A blog is a type of online journal that children use to share their thoughts and feelings. May be in written or video format. Posting blogs allows children to develop both their creative and technical skills. Also allows them to connect to other users with similar interests and write about their experiences, personal lives, popular culture, and any other topic that crosses their minds.

15. Blog entries can reveal a TON! This was a crazy weekend. Violetta smoked up in her bathroom I love my girl.) Crazy driving Spending too much money on books Smoking way too much Seeing people die Diareeah Quality time with MY Stephanie Falling in love with a woman (lolz!!!) Buying the coolest camera Shooting everything Donuts in KHOLS parking lot Stealing clothing Thats only what I can remember. I am getting thinner.

16. Instant Messaging (IM) IM is a form of Internet communication that combines the live nature of real time chat with the personal contact of email. One benefit of IM over chat rooms: IM provides a safer environment since contact lists can be better controlled.

17. Instant Messaging (IM) IM software allows users to create a detailed personal profile including: name, email address, age, home address, phone number, school and hobbies. - If children aren’t careful during the sign-up process, they can reveal more than they should. - Easy accessible profiles can allow anyone to contact them. - Some IM programs offer users the option of joining in chats with strangers.

18. Chat Rooms Places on the Internet where you can have live, real-time conversations with many people at the same time. Everyone in the chat room can see what everyone else writes, but you can still be as anonymous as you want.

19. Chat Rooms While chat rooms can be dynamic meeting places for people with similar interests: • Children can be easily mislead to do things that they ordinarily would not do. • It is easy for a child to reveal more, sometimes much more, than they should. • They are cruising grounds for predators.

20. Gaming 97% of online teens (12-17) play computer, Web, portable, or console games. 27% of them game with people they don’t know online. (Lenhart, 2008)

21. Video Networking What kinds of videos are our students viewing and posting ?

22. Video Networking Registration is almost always free. Identity verification is not always required to become a member – children can access “adult” material. Graphic and explicit videos – pornography, violence, pedophilia.

23. Online Keyword Searches

24. Keyword Searches Unintentional… Children using search engines to locate legitimate information can receive links to the wrong sites…

25. Keyword Searches Intentional… Curiosity in children is natural but learning about certain topics online is not usually the best place!

26. SocialNetworkingSites An online community of internet users Anyone who signs up, for free, gets a page to do with whatever they like (post pictures, artwork, etc.) Users can communicate with others through email or private messaging using the site’s servers Examples include:

27. Facebook Facts Facebook currently has over 800 million active users If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest country in the world between the United States and India. Facebook grows at over 10 million members a month The United States contains 1/3 of the world’s Facebook users (Burbary, 2011)

28. Facebook users by location (Internet World Stats, 2011)

29. Who is on Facebook? (Burbary, 2011)

30. DangersofSocialNetworkingSites • Damage to reputation • Tendency to over-share personal information or post inappropriate pictures • Kids are savvy enough to post things, but not always mature enough to understand the consequences!!! • Social exclusion or bullying • Teens get to “ignore” or “confirm” their friends • Teens compete to see who has the most friends, often confirming friend requests from unknown persons

31. DangersofSocialNetworkingSites • Sexual predators • No way to “police” social networking sites • From 2007-2009, MySpace deleted over 90,000 accounts because they were created by registered sex offenders • 20% of children ages 10-17 have been solicited sexually online • 75% of youth who have received an online sexual solicitation did not tell a parent for fear of losing their internet privileges (NetLingo, 2008)

32. MissingChildAlertsResultingFromOnlineEnticementviaMySpace.

33. Interesting Facts About Cell Phones 75% of teens (ages 12-17) have their own cell phone (Lenhart, 2007) Cell phones are the #1 form of communication among teens The average teen sends 2,200 text messages each month which averages to over 80 messages per day! (Nielson, 2008)

34. ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing

35. BRB Be right back

36. L8R Later

37. RU/18 Are you over 18?

38. NIFOC Nude in front of camera or computer

39. PAW Parents are watching

40. CD 9 Code 9- Parents are around

41. KPC Keeping parents clueless

42. 95% of parents don’t recognize the lingo kids use to let people know their parents are watching (NetLingo, 2008)

43. HarmfulTexting101 Vexting – text messages sent to deliberately annoy or irritate someone Hexting – text messages sent to deliberately hurt someone in a planned, hateful manner (cyberbullying) Sexting – text messages containing sexually explicit words or pictures (Karres and Hounshell, 2010)

44. A survey conducted last year by MTV and the Associated Press found that 29% of youth reported receiving messages with sexual words or images.

45. “Sexting” HasSeriousConsequences

46. Sexting Documentary

47. Cyberbullying • Using the phone or Internet to create and send harassing or humiliating messages and images • Examples include: • Text messages or IMs containing insults or threats • Emails, IMs, or postings on social networking sites containing hurtful comments about others • Threatening emails or messages sent using an assumed identity • Websites designed to target specific people

48. Statistics on Cyberbullying 1 in 3 teens (12-17) have been cyberbullied Girls are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying (28% girls vs. 26% boys) Most victims know the person bothering them Only 10% of bullying victims tell their parents 53% of teens admit sending hurtful messages Several states have made cyberbullying a crime (including North Carolina) ( NYS Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, 2009)

49. Consequences of Cyberbullying 09/12/09 10/17/06 01/14/10 10/17/03 From hurt feelings to… suicide

50. How do we protect our students? Educate parents, staff and students about the dangers of cyberspace Teach students how to adjust their privacy settings Encourage parents to monitor internet and cell phone usage Educate parents on computer software that blocks inappropriate websites Develop an acceptable use policy that addresses cyberbullying