The second in a two part series from the St. Cloud Area School District 742 blog.
Chemical abuse and truancy aren’t the only threat to kids today. A newer threat, cyberbullying, has been developing with the advancement of technology and it is through social media.
Jessica Harstad and Kathy Hodekeinen, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), express safety and security issues regarding the internet. Some issues for discussion: inappropriate content, online privacy, sexting, online sexual solicitation and cyberbullying.
“There are dark corners of the internet…kids can end up in a sticky situation,” says Harstad. “Once you see it online, you can’t unsee it…Most children aren’t looking for inappropriate content.”
Harsted shares an example. If a child is doing a report on the White House and doesn’t go to whitehouse.gov, he or she will find an inappropriate website.
If something like this happens, Harstad’s advice is to not panic. Children will typically shut down when they’ve done something wrong. Instead, take the moment to teach them how to search online appropriately. Then, as a parent, know the steps to get rid of the site.
Hodekeinen reports some staggering statistics for parents to be aware of when it comes to online use. Over 50,000 students apply every year to attend the University of Minnesota (U of M). Out of those 50,000, only 5,000 will be accepted.
The U of M uses social media in their recruitment process. The university will scout out new freshmen by viewing what is posted on their social media page.
If a freshman is posting positive things: affirmations, comments and is genuinely happy, the University feels that attitude carries over into his or her real-life. Those students are the students they feel will succeed. The opposite is true as well. Negativity doesn’t lean toward success.
Hodekeinen advises, “Stop and think before you hit the post button.”
The FBI reports twenty-five percent of 12 to 14-year-olds have sexted [image of nudity sent in a text message]. What’s even more staggering is that 88 percent of those sext images are likely to end up on adult or child pornography sites.
“Don’t take them [sext images], send them or keep them,” says Hodekeinen. “If you get one, delete it immediately.”
If a sext image is found on an owner’s phone, that person can be charged with child pornography possession. If it is sent, that person can be charged with distribution of child pornography. Both crimes automatically disqualify a student from scholarships and have to be reported on college and job applications.
Another abuse of social media that has come to the lime light is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is described as sending mean texts, photoshopping pictures, creating fake profiles, posting fight videos and spreading rumors.
Cyberbullying spreads faster, has a wider audience and follows the child home.
Hodekeinen shares the story of Amanda Todd, a student who eventually committed suicide after being cyberbullied. Todd’s story is a perfect example of how four seconds in someone’s life can change his or her entire future.
Harstad says, “There are things you can do as parents: establish rules about what kids can share, learn about reporting options, help them set privacy settings, help them create strong passwords and talk about friend lists.”
Another avenue for parents is Netsmartz.org which offers workshops to parents and students on how to use the Internet safely.
A new app is also available from the FBI. It is called FBI Child ID app. This app stores a child’s identity information such as height, weight and photo, which allows you to send the information to the police by the touch of a button. It also provides information and tips on how to keep children safe. The app is available for iPhone and Android systems.
The FBI encourages reporting of cyberbullying to the cybertipline.org or 1-800-843-5678 (The Lost).