1. “Cyber-Bullying, Sexting, Social Networking and the Law”
Community Service Officer Zarine Hussain

2. Topics Covered
Cyberbullying and
Gaming
Sexting
Social Networking
Laws

3. On-line Gaming & Cyber-Bullying
Discuss legitimate uses of the internet
Personal safety when participating in on-line gaming
“Pitfalls” of on-line gaming
Types of cyber-bullying
Consequences for victim and offender
What to do if you are a victim of cyber-bullying
Think Before You Click!

4. On-line Gaming
On-Line Gaming means people can become involved in game play with persons around the world
This can be on a computer or on a video game system
Some games allow the players to talk to each other
Can unknowingly give away personal information
“Players” may not be who they say they are
“Chat-rooms” occur in sites for younger children (Club Penguin & Webkinz) but are limited in response

5. On-line Gaming can lead into Cyber-Bullying
Stress that on-line gaming is very much a social networking site
Play can become heated between players and conflict can spill-over to the “physical” community
Some of the most popular games are violence-themed

6. Cyber-Bullying
When a child, preteen or teen is tormented, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by any other person using the Internet or other digital communication technology.

7. Forms of Cyber-Bulling
IM-ing (i.e. I hate you)
Text Messaging
Blogging
Creating Web Sites
Sending/forwarding pictures
Sending spy-ware or other hacking programs
Internet Gaming
Stealing Passwords
Impersonation (i.e. chat rooms, blogs, s)

8. How Prevalent is Cyber-Bullying?
Survey Report for Grades 4th-8th
42% reported being cyber-bullied
35% reported being threatened
21 % said they have received mean or threatening
58% reported someone said mean or hurtful things to them
53% reporting saying mean or hurtful things to someone else
58% did not tell anyone about the mean message

9. What can you do? Report the incident to the police Stop! Block! Tell!
Police Investigation can lead to potential criminal charges:
Disorderly Conduct
Cyber-stalking
Harassment by Electronic Device
Child Pornography if inappropriate photos
Stop! Block! Tell!
Stress to tell a parent, teacher or police, if the child is being bullied or if they know of someone else being bullied

10. Legal Consequences of Cyber ullying
Harassment by Electronic Device
Is a Misdemeanor offense . But can be a felony in certain circumstances
Use of any electronic communication
Making obscene comment, request or suggestion, OR
Interrupting telephone service with the intent to harass, OR
Threatening injury to the person or property
Knowingly allowing a person to use an electronic device for above purposes
Cyber-Stalking
is a Class 4 Felony
* Knowingly on 2 separate occasions, harasses another by use of electronic communication and transmits a threat or places another in reasonable apprehension of immediate or future harm, OR
* Creates & maintains a website of another for at least 24 hrs, that contains harassing statements, and transmits a threat or places another in reasonable apprehension of future harm

11. Resources for cyber-bullying

12. Sexting Discuss the new age of Instant Information Sharing
Define “Sexting”
Consequences associated with sexting: social, school and legal
Discuss “texting” and appropriate message content
Cyber-bullying in the form of sexting and texting
Reinforce personal safety issues and good cyber citizenship

13. “Texting” and “Sexting” defined…
Simply, the exchange of information between cellular device users
Typically uses “SMS” (small message system)
“SEXTING”
The act of sending and/or receiving sexually explicit messages or photos via electronic communication devices (typically cellular phones)
Can include text, images and video

14. Who is “Sexting” “SEXTING” Messages…
39% of Teens (13 to 19) are sending sex-messages
48% say they have received “sex” messages
Statistics provided by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy
“SEXTING” Photos….
20% of Teens (13 to 19)
1 in 5 teens say they have sent nude or semi-nude photo of themselves
2 in 5 have had a nude or semi- nude photo of themselves shared with others
1 in 5 admit to forwarding a nude or semi-nude photo that was meant to be private

15. Social Consequences
Embarrassment
Harassment
Take reports seriously!

16. Legal Consequences to Sexting
Harassment by Electronic Device
think “words”
Child Pornography – think “pictures”
- can charge the sender
- can charge the recipient (who keeps the photo/does not delete it)
- can charge anyone who forwards the photo
- can charge juveniles with this
Child Pornography charges are all felonies and can be ordered to register as a “Sex Offender”

17. Resources http://www.willcountysao.com http://www.ag.state.il.us

18. Social Networking Sites
Discuss “Social Networking” – positive and negatives
Discuss the basic “rules” for most popular pages
Emphasize personal safety and limiting access
Stress good citizenship
Reinforce the message of “Think before you click!”

19. Why do we need laws? Benefits
Allows professional networking and sharing of information
Allows an opportunity to re-connect with friends
Allows an opportunity to share information with family & friends
Hazards
Physical – cyber stalking
Financial – identity theft
Allows a “look” into your life – know who you are sharing with!

20. Popular Social Networking Sites Requirements:
The most popular sites (Facebook, Instagram, and Xanga) have the requirement that the user must be at least 13 years of age. Kids will frequently purport themselves to be older…
Can create “false” information
Page/Site can be taken down if threatening or harassing
Varying degrees of cooperation with Law Enforcement
Be Aware of the “You Tube” Phenomenon – you may be on it!

21. Social Networking Sites are “public”
ANYONE can access your information, including:
Peers
Students
Parents
Administrators
College Admissions
Scholarship Boards
Potential Employers
Law Enforcement
THINK before you post!

22. A Final Word on social networking sites…
Make sure you protect your privacy
For staff… Good rule of thumb, do not add students as “friends”
For Parents… ASK to be added as a “friend” on your child’s site – be aware they can have more than 1 site
Be aware that information can be used against you
“Profile Pictures” can be seen even if set to private
If they do find you, do you have information on your own site that you would want to share with the school population, including pictures???

23. Possible Legal Consequences
Harassment by Electronic Device
Child Pornography
Solicitation to Meet a Child

24. Resources http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm

25. The Internet isn’t all bad…