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Presentation to Grades 7-8

Internet Safety Presentation

Assembly for Grades 7 and 8

Cyberbullying

Definition: Cyberbullying is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. Cyberbullying is against the law and you shouldn’t be doing it. Video from February PCEP Parent Meeting

  • If we shouldn’t say it in person, don’t put it online.
  • Typically, more girls than boys write mean message and/or spread rumors online.
  • Don’t text, post, IM, and/or e-mail mean and/or offensive images.
  • Your actions are documents FOREVER.
  • Stop and think.

Online Relationships

Face Book, MySpace, X-Box Live, etc. 1 in 25 children will be solicited online.

  • You may not know the truth about the people you first meet online.
  • You can be lied to and/or betrayed.
  • Time does not equal trust.
  • How sure are you the person you are talking to is telling the truth? Think about the online conversation as if it were happening in front of you in the real world. Ex. 16 year old male friended a 14 year old girl. He said he had played 5 years for the Canadian Olympic Hockey team. Did he really start playing on the national Olympic team at age 11- NO!
  • It is a crime for an adult to have a sexual relationship with a child.
  • It is a crime for an adult to communicate in a sexual manner with a child.

Sending Sexually Explicit Messages

Sexting is sending images of partial and/or full nudity. Some teens say, “It’s my body. I can do with it what I want.” Det. Thomas’ response, “You may own the package but there are laws that govern how it is used.” A survey reported:

  • 39% of teens have sexted
  • 44% said sexting was common
  • 38% said sexting made dating easier
  • 66% of those who sexted did it for fun or to be flirty
  • 74% of those who sexted said they felt pressured to do it

athinline.org video

Do you really know who you are really sending it (the sext) to? Once the image is sent, you no longer control who has it, how it is used, and who will see it.

Sexting is not worth damaging your reputation. Anything you post can be seen by anyone- it’s FOREVER! Colleges and employers are conducting background checks which include your online history. A little common sense goes a long way.

Friends and Social Networking Sites

  • Think about the information you share and about who are your friends. Look up the definition of “friend” in the dictionary. If the person on the other end of Face book (or any social networking site) doesn’t fit this definition. S/he is NOT your friend.
  • You should not send, post, or forward pictures that are not password protected.
  • Pictures tell a lot about who you are and how you can be found, i.e. bulletin board with school pennant, team photo in uniform, etc.
  • You lose control of the image once it is posted. Another person/party could alter the image and forward it to others. Images and videos can be duplicated and manipulated.
  • Limit the kind and type of images and videos you post.

Students saw a sample page of the Face Book page created by the presenter’s younger sister- including her 454 “friends.” There is peer pressure to have the most “friends.”

Same as information presented at February PCEP Parent Meeting.

Teens today have two lives; the real world and the virtual world. Face Book pages are typically different from the real you.

G-mail and BUZZ

G-mail automatically displays your Google profile including your e-mail address to anyone who does a Google search. The default setting allows anyone you connect with to see your regular contacts. The mobile version is automatic and displays the user’s exact location when a message is posted with a cell phone. Consider disabling BUZZ. Four square is another networking site that can communicate your exact location via cell phone.

Five Things to Remember

1. Don’t assume anything you send or post is going to remain private.

2. There’s no changing your mind in cyberspace. The decisions you make today stay with you into your twenties, thirties, forties, etc.

3. Do give in to pressure to do something that makes you uncomfortable, even in cyberspace.

4. Consider the recipient’s reaction.

5. Nothing is truly anonymous.

Remember

Sexting is a crime. You can be prosecuted for sending and/or forward partially or fully nude pictures of a teenager. It is a crime and you can be charged with a felony and forced to register as a sex offender. Tell your parents and call the police if you receive a sext message.

Safety Tips

  • Don’t respond to messages that are rude and/or offensive.
  • Save any rude, harassing and/or offensive messages. These could be used by law enforcement officials.
  • Secure your password(s).

§ Your identity can be stolen and assumed by someone else.

§ Only your parents should have your password.

  • Never download anything from anyone you do not know.
  • Respect copyright laws, i.e. ripping music holds your parents financially responsible.
  • Don’t post anything that will embarrass you later. Think about the future.
  • Talk with an adult you trust when confronted with something that makes you uncomfortable and/or scared.
  • If you’re not willing to do something a Quest Field in front of a packed stadium, don’t do it online.