Part V: Texting: Do’s & Dont’s

1. Part V: Texting: Do’s & Dont’s The Internet is Forever

2. Texting Texting is a major form of communication through cell phones, but it can be dangerous if not done legally and appropriately.

3. Texting while driving is ILLEGAL for people 21 years old or younger: Mo. Ann. Stat. § 304.820 (West): 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person twenty-one years of age or younger operating a moving motor vehicle upon the highways of this state shall, by means of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device, send, read, or write a text message or electronic message. 2. The provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to a person operating: (1) An authorized emergency vehicle; or (2) A moving motor vehicle while using a hand-held electronic wireless communications device to: (a) Report illegal activity; (b) Summon medical or other emergency help; (c) Prevent injury to a person or property; or (d) Relay information between a transit or for-hire operator and that operator's dispatcher, in which the device is permanently affixed to the vehicle. If you get caught texting while driving, you will get a ticket and have to go to court. If convicted, you will get points on your license. Points on your license add up and could cause your license to be suspended. If you drive with a suspended license, you could get arrested and put in jail.

4. Inappropriate Types of Texting “Sexting” Bullying Harassment Any of these three categories of texting, and many others, can have major consequences.

5. Possible Consequences of Inappropriate Texting… SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES: Bad Reputation The way others view you may change because of things you sent via text. Isolation/Outcast from friends People may not want to be your friend anymore. Unwanted Attention People may approach you wanting you to send more inappropriate messages.

6. Possible Consequences of Inappropriate Texting… EMOTIONAL: FUTURE: Emotional wounds may re-open later. Reputations could be permanently damaged. Character could be effected. Your ability to participate in: School functions; College of your choice; Getting a job; or Running for a position. • Embarrassment & Humiliation. • Loneliness. • After possible isolation. • Fear. • You may not know who has seen your inappropriate communications . • Betrayal. • The person you originally sent the communication to may have betrayed you and sent it to others .

7. Possible Consequences of Inappropriate Texting… Your text messages can be used against you in a court of law… • If you use text messages to carry out an illegal activity, the messages can be used against you. For example, in New York (People v. Limage), a man was charged with the crime of 2nd degree harassment for sending 6 messages in 17 hours to a woman stating he was outside her home and she was going to end up in the hospital. • If you have photos of yourself or friends doing something illegal, those can be used against you or your friends if you are charged with a crime.

8. THINK! Before you text… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLTj3WBmY1k Never create or send a text, picture, or video that you would not want the whole world (including your parents!) to see!! Jesse Logan was a teenager who sent a nude photo of herself to her boyfriend. The boyfriend sent the photo to others, who sent them to even more people. She was harassed by fellow students and eventually took her own life.

9. Remember • Your cell phone communications are not 100% secure. • Your cell phone could be lost or stolen and get in to the wrong hands. • You have no control over communications once they have been sent from your phone. • If you have the internet on your phone, the same internet guidelines apply as if you were on a computer.