Sexting and Cyber Safety Lauren Mortenson School Counselor

The Reality Most children have access to some sort of device that connects to an online app, platform, or gaming system They are communicating with people all over the world While some apps have age restrictions, most children fib about their ages Snapchat, KiK, dating sites, games rated M, etc.… Every day, teens and children are pressured into sharing pictures or personal information with others

Defining Sexting The sending of sexually explicit messages or images by cell phone An adult who sends or receives sexually explicit material of someone under the age of 18 is subject to prosecution under federal law. Punishable by fines or jail time Many states, including New Jersey have specific laws that address sexting by minors under 18, or even 17 in some cases.

Three questions to ask yourself about a sext message: Was this my idea? 2. Where will this picture end up? 3. What was going on when this picture was taken? (athinline.org)

Social problems in school Become withdrawn from friends When a sexted message gets out, it can cause a huge change in a teen’s behavior: Depression Anxiety Social problems in school Become withdrawn from friends Avoiding social activities -Nobullying.com

Changes in behavior cont. Being bullied Fear of going to school Loss of self esteem Poor grades

Changes in behavior cont. Excessive absenteeism from school Alcohol and drug use Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Become sexually promiscuous

What to do if your child is involved in sending/receiving sext messages: Seek help right away Contact a local official if you have questions Speak to your child about it directly Seek support from the school counselor or outside counseling to address any feelings/behaviors that may stem from the event

Online Safety Tips Keep all personal information private Do not store password information where someone else could have access to it For young children, set time limits on devices and always check the history of their devices to see what they have been doing Educate them on online safety by using resources like NetSmartz

Online Safety Tips cont… Educate your children on who they interact with over online apps Not everyone is who they say they are! Don’t share personal information like your name, where you live, or where you go to school over gaming sites Make sure the sites they are using are age- appropriate If they receive an inappropriate message or request, tell an adult right away, block them, and report them on the site.

Online support A Thin Line (athinline.org) is an MTV campaign that was developed to empower teens to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse. “The campaign is built on the understanding that there's a "thin line" between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else.” No Bullying (NoBullying.com) offers information on cyberbullying, statistics, and where to get help/counseling for bullying online, social media, or via text. Connect Safely (Connectsafely.org) helps educate parents and children on how to use the internet and social media wisely. There are parent guidebooks, facts, and internet safety information available. Netsmartz (netsmartz.org) an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline.