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Most people today rely on technology, and the internet, on a daily basis. How many of you utilize each of these every day?. Being responsible online means, NOT doing the following:.
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Most people today rely on technology, and the internet, on a daily basis. How many of you utilize each of these every day?
A Wisconsin teen posted a picture of a marijuana plant with the comment “My Mary Jane that’s growing in my closet right now.” Can you guess what happened next? Police officers checking social networking sites for gang activity came across this comment and arrested him.
Although tempting, status updates are no place to vent your frustrations toward another person…if you’re upset or angry at someone, step away from the computer until you’ve calmed down and are ready to make good, non-threatening, decisions.
It’s never a good idea to vent about your job or your superiors online. Be very careful what you post—you could jeopardize your job! You will need income and/or a recommendation later on!
As a general rule, you shouldn’t approve friends if you don’t already know them in person.
Along with ignoring people who bother you online, you can also use privacy settings to control who sees what. On Facebook, for example, you can choose between several levels of privacy. You may want some people to see everything you post, while others may be blocked from seeing specific parts of your page, like pictures and videos. When you go home today, check the privacy settings on the sites you’re using, and make sure you’re not sharing information that you want to keep private. Be aware though, that social networking policies change frequently, so stay on top of your accounts to make sure your privacy settings are where you want them.
Setting your page to private is a good step, but it’s not a license to post anything you want. Along with being careful about what you say, you should also be careful about what you show. Pictures and videos that are sexy, or show something inappropriate or illegal can get you into trouble. Remember the teen with the marijuana? Along with his comment, he had a picture of the marijuana plant growing in his closet. But his story isn’t the only one.
SEXTING It’s NOT just a photo…it’s serious. Sexting is when people take and send a nude (or partially nude) photo or video through their phone. Although some teens think they may just be joking around or flirting, there are serious repercussions, especially if minors are involved. Did you know that if you are found with a picture like this on your phone, you can be charged with Possession of Child Pornography? Did you know that if you forward a picture or video like this, that you can be charged with Distribution of Child Pornography? And it’s not just legal consequences that you might have to deal with. You could lose scholarships, be kicked off athletic teams, or lose your job. There’s also the very serious risk of humiliation when pictures or videos get out to other students, to your parents, or to the public.
The video, “Your Photo Fate” should automatically play below.After the video, please click outside the video to resume the slideshow.
Beware of Predators--predators can be any age, race, or gender. Also beware of meeting people that you don’t know offline—they may not be what they say they are. Although you may think the 25 year old shown to the right is cute, you should be aware that if he’s trying to date a minor, he’s still a predator.
They may send gifts to try to get you to meet them offline. A free cell phone might sound really good, but it might just be a way for a predator to communicate with you without anyone else knowing.
You may say, “that will never happen to me.” Be careful though. If you’re feeling lonely or misunderstood you might look for attention or friendship from someone you meet online—girls and boys are at risk of this. Be careful who you turn to for comfort.
If someone makes you feel uncomfortable online, report it to your parents, a trusted adult, and/or the CyberTipline.
Cyberbullying is becoming more and more of a problem. It is a form of bullying using technology. It can include acts like repeatedly sending mean text messages or writing hurtful status updates directed at another person, creating a fake profile and posting negative comments as someone else, sending threatening messages, sharing hurtful personal information about another person online, and other forms of bullying / harassment that occur online or using cell phones.
Cyberbullying, like regular bullying, can have devastating effects on the victim. Victims may become so seriously affected that school performance and attendance decline, students may withdraw from friends and family, drop out of school, and even attempt or commit SUICIDE.
In addition to reporting, make sure YOU are not guilty of being a cyberbully…
Think before you post…the following people may be looking. If you’re not okay with everyone seeing something that you put out there, you probably shouldn’t put it out there at all.
For more information about internet safety and anything discussed in this presentation, visit: www.netsmartz.org Netsmartz is a program funded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. All information for this presentation is from www.netsmartz.org.
