1. Sexting and Cyber Safety
Lauren Mortenson
School Counselor

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. Social problems in school Become withdrawn from friends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Become withdrawn from friends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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.