Social Media and School Safety The Impact on our Schools, Students and Staff Presented by Don Moseman Master Instructor, NDSC

Who we are… NSC Chapter Largest safety council in U.S. with more than 50,000 students taught each year from more than 25 states This topic part of our school of our school EOP program - Emergency Response Plan Creation - Building Assessment Program - School Violence Prevention - School Design Consultants New regional safety campus

NDSC…

WELCOME… Background U.S. Air Force State Police BATF L.E. Trainer Certified Active Shooter Instructor since 2001 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Approved Place YOUR background and introduction here

Our Ever-Changing World

Social Media and Youth At this age, the internet is no longer a solitary experience. It is SOCIAL. Technology is going to play a huge part in their life. We must educate ourselves the best we can. They are creating a digital footprint that can last a long time in cyberspace.

Selected Findings: Messages and Cell Phones 81% of teens are on at least one social network

Phone, internet and social media 75% of middle school kids have a presence on the web (up from 48% in 2008) 27% are using some form of social media to text, chat, blog 3+ hours/day 88% feel informed about internet safety 26% felt their parents would be nervous if they knew what they did on the internet or cell 24% are receiving intimidating or threatening technology messages 12% are sending intimidating or threatening technology 81% are on a social site

What are they posting? 91% post photos of themselves 71% post information about their school 71% post the city and address where they live 53% post their email address 20% post their phone number

Social Media Dangers Some posting threats Some using platforms for social contacts for criminal activity Let’s look at one example….

Reactions to Posts Let’s look at one example and discuss…

Top Social Sites for Teens Facebook 82% YouTube 78% Google 70% Twitter 62% Snapchat 47% Instagram 42% Tumblr 36% Pinterest 30%

DO YOU KNOW WHAT APPS ARE ON YOUR CHILD’S PHONE? THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF TODAY’S POPULAR APPS!

Snap Chat Messaging app - send photos and texts “Destroys” photos/text messages within 10 seconds after being opened Reputation for sexting Age 15 Can be accessed by third parties

Instagram Photo-sharing and social networking service Post pictures and videos Why It’s Dangerous: Can access mature and/or inappropriate content Makes content public Must be 13 to get app

KIK Messaging that allows texts/pictures to be sent without saving to phone’s history (Similar apps: Viper, WhatsApp, TextNow) Why It’s Dangerous: Send and receive inappropriate text/pictures Profiles are visible to anyone Random strangers can contact your child 17 years old

YiK Yak Works via GPS – closest 500 yackers Tracks your location Free, post anything Works via GPS – closest 500 yackers Tracks your location Up vote/Down vote Must be 17 but no age verification

Vine Users can watch and post 6 second videos 15 years old Why It’s Dangerous: Videos can be inappropriate Predators use this app to search for teens and find their location and try to connect with them via other apps

Ask any questions Can record self with webcam Why It’s Dangerous: Not moderated No parental controls Cruel questions Can lead to cyberbullying Age 13

Whisper Post secrets anonymously Chat with other users in your geographical location Why It’s Dangerous: Perfect tool for ill-intentioned strangers and anonymity can be lost.

ChatRoulette Video chat with strangers (similar to Omegle) Why It’s Dangerous: May be chatting with a “fake-stranger” (Example – 50 year old man posing as a 15 year old boy) No registration No age verification

Omegle Video chat with strangers Catch phrase to talk to strangers Why It’s Dangerous: 2 strangers are connected together Age 15

Hiding Apps Apps designed to hide your photos, videos, text messages, contacts, and apps Poof! (no longer available but may still be on your child’s phone!) Other names: Hidden Apps, App Lock, and Cydia. Other free app names (iPhone): Secret Calculator and Vault, Other free app names (Android): Smart Hide Calculator, Hide It Pro, and Vault.

Device Settings: Unhiding Hiding Apps Teens are more likely to use apps when it comes to hiding their pictures, applications, text messages, and other data on their smartphones, so it is important to know what devices offer in terms of hiding apps and content. On the iPhone, you can hide applications by going into the Settings > General > Restrictions and checking off next to applications that you don’t want to show up on the screen. To make them reappear, you can go back and repeat the process. Androids offer the same option of hiding apps from the home screen. You can do so by going to the App Drawer > Home > Settings > Hide Applications and choosing apps that you would like to hide. Just like on the iPhone, you will have to repeat the process to unhide the apps.

Cyberbullying by the Numbers Source: TeenSafe 19 percent of cyberbullying often entails the spreading of rumors Nearly 13 percent of victimized children experience hurtful comments that lead to serious behavior problems 72 percent of children report they are cyberbullied because of how they look or dress 26 percent of victims are chosen due to their race or religion The National Autistic Society released that 40 percent of children with autism and 60 percent of children with Asperger’s Syndrome report experiencing bullying- on and offline

Cyberbullying by the Numbers Source: TeenSafe Girls (41 percent) are more likely to experience cyberbullying at some point in their life compared to boys (28 percent) Girls who cyberbully tend to post mean online comments Girls tend to favor social media outlets like Snapchat or Instagram while boys often interact over gaming consoles Male cyberbullies often post hurtful photos or videos

Cyberbullying by the Numbers Source: TeenSafe More than 70% of children felt that bullying negatively impacted their social lives 83% of victims felt that the bullying hurt their self esteem 30% of victims have turned to self harming behaviors, which has increased by 6 percent from 2013 30% of children who have been bullied have suicidal thoughts, a 5 percent rise from 2013 statistics 10% of children have attempted to take their own lives due to bullying 7% percent of victims have bullied others as a result of their torment

Drilling Down: Peer Disapproval If students feel that their peers would consider drinking, smoking, etc., to be wrong, then they are ALSO less likely to engage in those behaviors. When students perceive that their peers would feel it was wrong or very wrong to smoke, drink, or use marijuana or prescription drugs, then (HS): 69.2% did not smoke cigarettes in the past 30 days 60% did not have at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days. 65.1% did not use marijuana in the past 30 days 87.4% did not use prescription drugs to get high in the past 30 days.

Drilling Down: Parental Influence If students feel that their parents would consider drinking, smoking, etc., to be wrong, then they are less likely to engage in those behaviors. When students perceive that their parents would feel it was wrong or very wrong to smoke, drink, or use marijuana or prescription drugs, then (HS): 93.4% did not smoke in the past 30 days 86.7% did not have at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days 93.5% did not use marijuana in the past 30 days 93.3% did not use prescription drugs in the past 30 days

Drilling Down: Family Of those students that reported never (past 7 days) eating together with their family, 25% did smoke cigarettes in the past 30 days 39% did drink alcohol in the past 30 days 30% did use marijuana in the past 30 days 17% did use prescription drugs to get high in the past 30 days

Advice for Parents Check what your kids are doing. Know which apps they are using and learn about them. Create clear ground rules in your house. Enforce those rules. Ask questions. Again and again! Have your children unplug at dinner and at bedtime. Set the example! No cell phone in the bedroom!

Advice for Parents Talk to your kids about what is appropriate to say and post – Common Sense Media Stranger Danger exists even online! Don’t allow them on sites with age restrictions that they don’t meet. Stay up to date on what is out there (as much as possible ).

Suggestions for Teachers Report student concerns of social media traffic Educate students on dangers of social media (use experts) Police your own social footprint Be aware of use of phones/ video in classroom Involve parents with all reported bullying and cyber bullying Do not allow laws to be broken in your classroom

THANK YOU! For more information or to schedule additional presentations Don Moseman DonM@NDSC.org