1. Adolescence and digital pitfalls: what parents and clinicians need to know Kristal James, LCMHC, NCC Michael Negrette, LMFT Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Mlis, MPA
Utah Mental Health Counselor Association

2. Objectives What is digital violence?
Online harassment and cyberbullying
Risk and protective factors for cyberbullying
Clinician experiences and perspectives
Ethics and digital behavior
Discussion

3. 1. What is digital violence?
Digital sexual violence is violence

4. Digital Violence Includes
Privacy violations
Cyberstalking
Cyberbullying
Doxing
Trolling
Hacking and stealing personal images
Taking explicit pictures or videos without consent
Harassment, particularly with online gaming

5. However, men are slightly more likely to be harassed online than women
Women are more likely to be sexually harassed online than men, particularly young women
However, men are slightly more likely to be harassed online than women
2/3 of American adults have witnessed online harassment

6. Pew Research found an increase in online harassment from their 2014 study to % of women aged report they have received unsolicited sexual images online.
Online harassment has grown since Pew Research first did the study in 2014

7. Where does this harassment occur?
Video games- Men are more likely to play video games than women. Thus, receive the majority of harassment
Dating apps
Website comments section
Personal s
Social Media
Anonymous message boards like Reddit
Where does this harassment occur?

8. Mobile Trends
In 2016 more people accessed the Internet through mobile devices than desktops for the first time
95% of teens have access to a smartphone
YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram are the most popular social media for teens, followed by Facebook
Teen girls use social media more while teen boys play games more
45% of teens according to a 2018 Pew Research study say they are on their phone almost “constantly.”

9. 2. Risk and protective factors for cyberbullying
Risk and protective factors for perpetrators and victims

10. Cyber bullying Risk Factors
Students seen as different than their peers
Cyber bullying Risk Factors
Females 2x more likely to be both victim and perpetrators of cyberbullying
More hours behind a screen
Less parental and adult monitoring
Students previously cyberbullied are more likely to cyberbully others

11. Cyber bullying Protective Factors
Parental involvement
Cyber bullying Protective Factors
Encouraging “moral engagement” and empathy
Less screen-time
Digital literacy skills (i.e. understanding settings)
School and family support and safe places to report cyberbullying
Digital citizenship skills (i.e. understanding digital footprint)

12. Loneliness Risk Factors Protective Factors
Individuals who have a lack of connection to peers are more likely to exhibit unhealthy online behavior and be at risk for predators online.
Protective Factors
Individuals who have more social connection are more likely to use technology in a positive way and have more resiliency to negative online behaviors.

13. 3. CLINICIAN EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES

14. Cell Phone Usage Recommendations
Set expectations from ‘go’
No cell phones at family time
No phones at dinner
No Phubbing
Turn in cell phones at bed time
Follow School Policies
Phones are available for ‘checking’

15. Video Game Suggestions – PC and Consoles
Baseline then earn – 1 hour to begin
No PCs/consoles/TVs in bedrooms
Use behavior contracts
Balance – Involvement with other activities

16. Other Clinical /parental considerations
Talk! And Listen!
Set a good technology example
Model healthy living – Balance
Educate yourself!
Block options

17. 5.
discussion
What do you see?

18. References
Centers for Disease Control, “Sexual Violence Prevention,”
Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oakland, CA: Prevention Institute.
Rogers-Whitehead, Carrie. "What Prevention Science Tells Us about Cyberbullying." ISTE | Blog. June 19,
Pew Research, “Online Harassment 2017”
We are Thorn, ”Child Sex Trafficking Statistics”

19. References
Hood, Michelle, and Amanda L. Duffy. "Understanding the Relationship between Cyber-victimisation and Cyber-bullying on Social Network Sites: The Role of Moderating Factors." Personality and Individual Differences 133 (2018): doi: /j.paid
StopBullying.gov, “Facts about Bullying,”
Pew Research, “Teens, Social Media and Technology 2018”