Cyber Safety Recap – Catherine Cook – February 8, 2016

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Today we looked closely at sexting and internet predators. We talked in detail about the following:

  • Sexting is defined as ‘posting or sending sexually suggestive text messages and images including nude or semi-nude photos, via cellular phone or over the internet.’
  • The students viewed this video about sexting.
  • We examined what, specifically, sexting is and when it is considered illegal:
    • It is illegal if you send a naked or semi naked picture of some one under 18 years old.
    • It is illegal if you take a naked or semi naked picture of some one under 18 years old.
    • It is illegal if you receive such an image even if you did not ask for it and you delete it. You must tell the sender you do not want to receive it AND notify an adult that you received it.
  • The students identified the similarities between street predators and online predators.
  • To illustrate how online predators connect with kids on the internet, this YouTube video was viewed. It does an excellent job of describing what the online predator is thinking and trying to do as well as what a child is thinking as she develops a relationship with this person online.
  • Finally, the students viewed a video called Friend or Fake . This is about a teenagers who connects with an ‘online’ friend and contemplates meeting the friend in person. His friends remind him how stupid it is to meet someone he met online in person.  ***The students were unable to view this video as the school had a drill during the class period.  They will start the next session with this.

Feedback

The topics in today’s session are more serious and sobering than the previous sessions. The 6th graders need to begin to be exposed to these issues, but they were asked to handle them with a greater level of maturity. They did great with them.

The students had a very good discussion about both sexting and internet predators. They had lots of comments and primarily related to the topic of Internet predators.

This session was easily the most valuable one that we have had in the 3 sessions simply because the students were very engaged and had lots of discussion around these topics.

Please take one minute to watch the YouTube video linked above. It is an excellent illustration of how a predator begins to start a relationship with a child online as well as how and why the child falls for the tricks of the predator.