1. Cyber Bullies and Internet Predators The Downside of the Internet Dr. Christine McIntosh Consultant Kentucky Center for School Safety

2. http://www.kysafeschools.org/

4. Internet Landscape The Internet has dramatically changed our world and the way we interact within it. Faster communication Advanced research techniques Up-to-the-minute news Online shopping and services Financial management--online banking and bill paying

5. Why Use the Internet? Kids/Teens -Chat -E-mail -Instant Message -Homework -Gaming -Download Music/Movies -Social Networking Adults -Shopping -E-mail -Pay Bills -Banking -Research Products -Make Travel Plans

6. Student Behavior  30% of students say e-mail, chat rooms, or instant messaging is the main way they stay in contact with their friends.  38% of students feel freer to do what they want on the Internet.  31% of students say it is easier to talk with people on the Internet than in real life.

7. Cyber Bullying

8. What Is It? “Cyber Bullying” occurs when a child, preteen or teen is Tormented Threatened Harassed Humiliated Embarrassed Or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using…. Internet Interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones.

9. What it involves…  Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images;  Posting sensitive, private information about another person;  Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad;  Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

10. What it is not….  Once adults become involved, it is cyber- harassment or cyber-stalking.  Adult cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking is NEVER called cyber bullying.

11. Some Facts  35% of kids have been threatened online  42% of kids have been bullied while online  53% of kids admit to bullying others online  58% have not told their parents or an adult

12. Bullying Then and Now Traditional bullies…  Have power over victim because of size or popularity  Circle of influence has finite size  Can be devastating to victim Cyber bullies… Can harass victims behind veil of anonymity Has position of power regardless of size or social status. Circle of influence is worldwide, 24/7 Can be devastating to victim

13. Characteristics of a Traditional Bully  Poor social skills  Poor conflict management skills  Poor social judgment  Difficulty showing empathy or compassion to others  Live in situations where they feel out of control or powerless  Don’t “fit in” or who feel inadequate

14. Why do bullies bully?  Selfishness  Insecurity  Anger  Frustration  Fear  Entertainment  Revenge  Bored  Too much time on hands  Too many tech toys available  For laughs or to get a reaction  By accident

15. Why Bully Online?  Joke  Encouraged by friends  Anonymous (feel powerful)  Revenge (right a wrong)  Promote own social status  Misunderstood e-mail

16. Victims & Perpetrators  Girls are twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.  Students who have been cyber bullied recently (at least twice in last couple of months)  62% said that they had been cyber bullied by another student at school  48% had been cyber bullied by a friend  58% did not know who had cyber bullied them.

17. Real Cyber Bullying Incidents  “Star Wars Kid” Tape “Star Wars Kid” Tape  Instant Messages claimed a student had a contagious disease.  Cell phone camera used to take a locker room photo  Student’s face morphed onto a pornographic photo  Websites take polls for fattest, ugliest, etc…

18. Ways and Means Chat Rooms E-mail Personal Web Pages Personal Blogs

19. What To Do?

20. Stop

21. Must Remember…  It is difficult for teens to totally stop using these communications.  Internet and other forms of technology are essential to youth living in this always-connected digital generation.  Electronic technology is how today’s youth make friends, stay in touch and become part of a social group.

22. What To Do? Block

23. What To Do? Tell

24. Must Remember  Teens are often reluctant to report cyber bullying.  Many believe that some “bullying” behaviors online happen to just about everyone to some degree.  No big deal--just ignore it.  Bullies often think everyone “does it” and victims should just “get over it.”

25. Contact Law Enforcement If known or suspected cyber bullying involves acts such as: Threats of violence Extortion Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages Harassment, stalking, or hate crimes Child pornography

26. Warning Signs of a Possible Victim  Unexpectedly stops using the computer  Appears nervous or jumps when an IM or e- mail is received  Appears uneasy about going to school or outside in general  Appears to be angry, depressed, or frustrated after using the computer  Becomes abnormally withdrawn from usual friends and family members

27. Warning Signs of a Possible Cyber Bully  Quickly switches screens or closes programs when you walk by  Uses the computers at all hours of the night  Gets unusually upset if he/she cannot use the computer  Laughing excessively while using the computer  Avoid discussions about what they are doing on the computer  Is using multiple online accounts, or an account that is not their own

28. Cyber Bullying

29. Suggestions for Educators  Be PROACTIVE  Teach cyber citizenship/ethics to students as soon as they begin using tech tools  Educate students and staff about cyber bullying, its dangers, and what to do if someone is cyber bullied

30. Suggestions for Educators  Be sure school’s anti-bullying rules and policies address cyber bullying  Closely monitor students’ use of computers at school  Use filtering and tracking software on all computers, but don’t rely solely on this software--SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE!!!  Investigate report of cyber bullying IMMEDIATELY

31. Important to Know  While some online actions maybe wrong, some of their Internet behaviors could be ILLEGAL.  How explain undesirable actions of now to important people in future?  Legal consequences could also be imposed.

33. Cyber Bullying Tips for Students

34. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Don’t give out private information such as passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers)

35. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Be careful where you post personal information online, such as name, address and phone number. This information can be used in a negative way by bullies.

36. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Use Netiquette. Be polite online and others will tend to do the same. Ignore anyone who gets angry or bullies you.

37. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Consider avoiding sharing buddy lists, as it increases the chances of being bullied.

38. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Don’t send a message when you are angry.

39. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied Delete messages from people you don’t know or from people who are acting angry or mean.

40. How to Prevent Being Cyber Bullied When something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Leave the site or chat.

41. PSAs

42. Cyber Predators  Definitions (& some statistics)  Common Characteristics  Communication Tools  Grooming Process  Avoiding Risks Online  Resources

43. Definitions  Predator--one who stalks or uses lies, secrecy, or stealth to get close enough to another person in order to easily hurt or harm them.  Prey--one who is a victim or is vulnerable to victimization by a predator, no matter what their age.

44. i-SAFE TM Statistics  63% have their own e-mail account (53% are not controlled or managed by parents or other adults)  17% have kept their Internet activity a secret from friends or family

45. i-SAFE TM Statistics  12% have attempted to make friends with an older person  10% have met face to face with someone not of their own age whom they had first met online

46. Common Characteristics  Age 25 - 65  Well-Educated  Married  Cross Socio-Economic Boundaries  Steady Employment  Varied Computer Expertise  Male

47. Communication Tools  Chat Rooms  Private Chats  Blogs  Instant Messaging/Texting  E-mail  Phone

48. Grooming Process

49.  Shared Interests

50. Grooming Process  Shared Interests  Trust

51. Grooming Process  Shared Interests  Trust  Secrecy

52. Grooming Process  Shared Interests  Trust  Secrecy  Breaking Down Barriers

53. Grooming Process  Shared Interests  Trust  Secrecy  Breaking Down Barriers  Threats

54. Grooming Process  Shared Interests  Trust  Secrecy  Breaking Down Barriers  Threats  Face-to-Face Meeting

55. Avoiding Risks Online

56. Keep the computer in an open area.

57. Any form of online communication has its risks. Chat Rooms E-mail Personal Web Pages Personal Blogs Posting Photos

58. Choose a “safe”Screen Name.

59. Andrew15Vette LukeBruins22 Jessiegirl14 maria14jazz

60. Profiles should be short and vague.

62. Chat Rooms are popular, fun and a predator’s playground.

63. Blogs and Social Networking Sites-- Know Who You Are Communicating With Online

64. Gaming--No Longer an Isolating and Solitary Activity

65. What to do if confronted with inappropriate situation online…

66. Tell parent, guardian, or another trusted adult.

67. If happens at school, or involves school in any way, tell a teacher, counselor, librarian or administrator.

68. Notify the ISP or social-networking site if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable.

69. Contact law enforcement if feel threatened by someone or something online.

70. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

71. Resources “Ad Council/Cyberbullying Prevention” http://www.adcouncil.org COPPA--Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act http://www.coppa.org i-SAFE--The Leader in e-SAFETY Education http://www.isafe.org/ Kentucky Center for School Safety--Internet Safety http://www.kysafeschools.org/ http://www.kysafeschools.org/ NetSmartz Workshop--Educate. Engage. Empower http://www.netsmartz.org/ OnGuardOnline--Your Safety Net TM “Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm WiredSafety.org--The World’s Largest Internet Safety and Help Group http://wiredsafety.org/> “Ad Council/Cyberbullying Prevention” http://www.adcouncil.org COPPA--Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act http://www.coppa.org i-SAFE--The Leader in e-SAFETY Education http://www.isafe.org/ Kentucky Center for School Safety--Internet Safety http://www.kysafeschools.org/ http://www.kysafeschools.org/ NetSmartz Workshop--Educate. Engage. Empower http://www.netsmartz.org/ OnGuardOnline--Your Safety Net TM “Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens” http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm WiredSafety.org--The World’s Largest Internet Safety and Help Group http://wiredsafety.org/>