Net smartz teens-presentation-2015 mac

Editor's Notes

• #2: (Introduce yourself.)
• #4: Today, we are going to talk about how you can stay safer online and be a better digital citizen while using the Internet. Now, maybe you’re thinking, “Another Internet safety presentation? I know all this stuff already!” But you shouldn’t tune out, and here’s why. Around the country, teens just like you are: Dealing with unwanted sexual requests. Facing the consequences of sharing too much information online. Being cyberbullied.   Even if you know how to avoid all of these things, there are teens who don’t. One of them could be your friend, sibling or classmate. Good digital citizens protect themselves and others online. So if you pay attention here today, you will walk away ready to help yourself and your friends deal with some of the difficult situations that come up online.   Examples from the news Unwanted sexual requests- An AL teen exchanged phone numbers with a man she met online. He then began texting her suggestive photos.1 Personal information - A 17-year-old Australian girl was helping her grandmother count a lot of money. She posted a picture of the money online, and two men broke into her house to try and steal it.2 Inappropriate information - A NJ high school football player was expelled after posting several sexually explicit and racially offensive tweets. One of the colleges that had been interested in recruiting him retracted its scholarship offer.3 Cyberbullying - As a prank, a MA teen shared the password to his teacher’s Web portal. He expected that people would post funny pictures and jokes, but instead they posted threatening and obscene content. The student was suspended, and he lost his college scholarship.4
• #6: Using the Internet safely and responsibly is important because it’s such a big part of our lives. What are some of the things that you like to do online? (Pause for audience response. If you need to prompt the audience, use the questions below. Take note of their answers and tailor your presentation to their current interests.) How many of you like to: Play games online or on a console like PlayStation or Xbox? Post images or videos on sites like Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube? Use Google to research homework assignments? Shop online through sites like Amazon? Talk with friends and family through sites like Skype or Facebook? Download apps to your smartphones? Throughout this presentation, we’ll discuss some ways that you can stay safer while doing these things.
• #7: First, you have to know which behaviors put you at risk. Some examples are: Sending mean or rude messages. Sharing inappropriate pictures through online posts or text messages. Talking about adult subjects, like sex, with people you don’t know. Visiting adult sites. While these behaviors may not sound very risky, each of them can contribute to getting you or a friend in trouble or putting you in danger. These are all risks you don’t have to take, so choose to protect yourself by avoiding them.
• #8: By now, you probably know there’s some pretty crazy stuff online – and some of it is stuff you don’t want to see. Many teens handle this inappropriate content by navigating away from it or reporting it.   Now that you’re older, it’s not only important to avoid inappropriate content online, but to refrain from posting it yourself. You should be cautious about posting images and comments that are inappropriate such as: Drinking, drug use and other criminal activities. Hate speech - such as slurs against someone’s sexuality, race or religion. Lewd or offensive gestures. Profanity. Revealing or suggestive images. Threats.
• #9: Posting these things online may: Ruin your reputation. Get you in trouble with your parents, school or the law. Damage future opportunities such as getting into college or getting a job.   Examples from the news Two MA high school students were suspended after posting a homecoming picture of themselves holding replica guns. Even though the guns were not real, school officials considered the photos to have caused a significant disruption to the school.5 A GA teen was suspended after posting his principal’s mug shot on Instagram and claiming she was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving. She was actually arrested after missing a court date for a speeding ticket.6 More than 100 TN high school students were suspended after a video showing students swearing was posted on YouTube. The video was shot during the school day.7 A 17-year-old MA boy was fired from his job at a sandwich shop after posting racist tweets.8
• #10: In this video, you’ll see how posting party pictures online can not only get you in trouble, but can affect your future. Underage drinking is illegal and inappropriate, but posting pictures of it online has additional risks and consequences. Look at what can happen when you not only break the rules, but post it for everyone to see. (Click to show video.)
• #11: (Video plays.)
• #12: Defining what information is inappropriate can be tricky, but here’s a good rule of thumb. If it can get you in trouble offline, it can probably get you in trouble online too. In order to limit misunderstandings, consider the following before posting content online: Would the adults in my life - parents, relatives, teachers, coaches and employers - think this is appropriate? Could this get me into trouble at school or with the law? Who might be hurt or embarrassed by this content? Does it give any information about me or another person that should not be shared? What does this content say about the kind of person I am? Is that how I want to be seen? How could this impact my future opportunities, such as scholarships, college acceptances and employment?
• #13: How many of you know people that share information about themselves through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? It can be easy to put a little bit of information about yourself in a lot of places online. You may not even realize how much you’re sharing. You should try to be careful about how much you reveal because online information can: Spread quickly and to a lot of people. Reach people that you don’t want it to. Be permanent. The Internet doesn’t keep things private just because you want it to. You should even be careful about what you post when using apps that promise anonymity like Whisper and Yik Yak. Privacy is not guaranteed online.  
• #15: Take a minute to think about how much information you are comfortable sharing online. Are you the type of person who posts status updates 12 times a day or 12 times a year? No matter which type you are, you should be careful about sharing personal information like your: Passwords. Home address. Location. Home/cell phone number. Email address. It’s not that you should never share this information. There are lots of great, legitimate sites that require it. But once you put information online, it’s easy to lose control of who sees it and what they do with it. Revealing personal information online can make you a target for identity theft, scams, computer hacks and other trouble. Examples from the news A 14-year-old English girl posted details about her birthday party online only to have it crashed by 800 people. Her uninvited “guests” did more than $48,000 of damage to her parents’ home.9 A 17-year old MD teen was playing a game on Facebook which asked users to fill out loan applications for extra points. The teen was later contacted by a car dealership that wanted to discuss his application.­10
• #16: Guard your personal information online: Have a different password for each online account - If they all use the same password, they will be easier to hack into. Use privacy settings to limit who has access to your information - These can change often, so don’t forget to check back and make sure your information is still limited to the people that you want to see it. Remember who you friend - Your friends have access to whatever you post, so make sure they are people you trust. Limit access to your location - A lot of services and devices have GPS capabilities which let you share where you are. For example, geolocation tags may be automatically embedded in the pictures you take with smartphones and tablets. Make sure to disable these functions and only give people you trust information about your whereabouts. Look for a lock symbol or “https” in the address bar of websites that ask for financial information. Don’t share others’ personal information, for example, sharing a friend’s cell phone number online. Don’t share passwords, even with close friends, a boyfriend or a girlfriend.   Suggested activity NetSmartz Workshop offers the tip sheet “Social Media Safety for Teens” at www.NetSmartz.org/tipsheets. Have teens read it and discuss why they are or are not following the tips.
• #17: Sexting is one way that some teens share inappropriate information. Sexting is the sharing of nude or suggestive pictures and videos through text messages. Although some research suggests only 2.5% of teens are sexting, stories about it have been all over the news. 11 You may even know people who have been asked to do it. Teens who get involved with sexting are usually: Joking around with friends. In a relationship, where a girlfriend or boyfriend asks for a photo. Flirting or trying to impress a crush.   Getting a request to sext might make you feel: Flattered, because it means that someone thinks you’re attractive. Angry, because someone is asking you for something so private. Pressured, especially if it comes from a boyfriend, girlfriend or crush.
• #18: As you watch this video, think about how the girl feels when she gets a request to sext from her boyfriend. Then, think about how she feels after it has been sent. (Click to show video.)
• #19: (Video plays.)
• #20: The girl in the video thinks that only her boyfriend will see the image. But she soon learns that once you share an image, it is out of your control. One study estimated that 88% of the self-made sexual or suggestive images that teens post online are re-posted to adult websites.12 If you take a revealing image of yourself: It could be lost if you misplace or lose your cell phone. It may be passed around without your permission. For example, an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend may share the sext to get revenge. People may bully or judge you because of the image. Some teens have been bullied so badly because of sexting images that they have been afraid to go to school. The person that receives the image might try to use it to blackmail you into sending more images. You may get in trouble with your school or with law enforcement, especially if there is evidence of blackmail, bullying or forwarding without permission. Some teens have been suspended from class, sports teams and other activities. Others have been charged with a crime and had to complete community service or educational programs.   Examples from the news A 15-year-old IA teen was arrested and referred to juvenile court on suspicion of extortion after uploading nude photos girls had sent him in an effort to get them to send more. 13 A 15-year-old TX teen was sent to an alternative school for a month for showing another student a nude image he received while on school grounds. 14 A 16-year-old GA teen was suspended for six days after tweeting a revealing photo that a classmate posted to his Facebook page. The school suspended him on a bullying violation.15
• #21: Once a sexting picture or video is out of your hands, it is out of your control. Fortunately, you can choose to stay in control before it ever gets to that point. Don’t take images of yourself that you wouldn’t want everyone to see. Don’t forward anyone else’s picture or video. Imagine how betrayed you’d feel if this happened to you. Don’t ask or pressure anyone to share an image. Many teens send sexts because they’ve been asked to by a boyfriend, girlfriend or crush. But you shouldn’t ask anyone to take this kind of risk, especially if it’s someone you care about. Talk to a trusted adult if you receive a revealing image, are being pressured into sending one or have sent one. While talking to an adult may seem difficult or embarrassing, it is important that you get one involved. An adult can help you by: Talking to your school to stop any bullying that has happened because of the image being shared. Working with law enforcement to investigate the situation. Getting the image removed from any websites that it’s on. Suggested resource NetSmartz Workshop offers a tip sheet about sexting for teens called “Tips to Prevent Sexting for Teens” at www.NetSmartz.org/tipsheets.
• #22: If a sexting image or video has been posted to a website or app, there are steps you can take to try to get it taken down. First, find out which websites the image is on and file a complaint. Trustworthy websites and apps work hard to keep off sexual images of minors and will remove them if notified. Include your age in the report and be clear that the picture was posted without your consent. Don’t forget that each website has its own reporting procedures, so you have to file a complaint for each one the picture or video is on. If your image is on a website that looks untrustworthy or doesn’t have a way to report, then consider contacting the police or filing a report at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.org. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone – this has happened to other teens too. You can always reach out to a friend, a counselor or another adult you trust for help or support. You have the strength to move past it.
• #23: Now let’s move from what you’re doing online to who you’re talking to. It’s important to understand that some people don’t have to best intentions and may make inappropriate requests. If the request is unwanted or made by an adult, then it’s called a sexual solicitation.   Here are some examples of solicitation: You’re in a video chat with someone you just met online and he asks you to pull up your shirt. A friend keeps asking you for revealing pictures even though you keep saying “no.” You’re talking to someone on a social media site who asks you sexual questions and wants to meet up.   If another teen or an adult asks you to do something like this, you don’t have to do it. Some teens are bothered by these requests, others aren’t. But you all have the right to say “no.”
• #24: Even though many teens aren’t bothered by these kinds of requests, it’s OK for you to be upset. If you get any kind of unwanted sexual request, you should: Block or unfriend the person who sent it. Report any inappropriate behavior to the website or app you’re using. Talk to someone –a friend, an older sibling, or an adult you trust.
• #25: Sometimes sexual solicitations can develop into more dangerous relationships with adults. In these cases, the adult tries to gain your trust by offering affection and attention. They may even try to meet you offline.
• #26: You can see some of these methods in this video where two teen boys end up meeting people offline. Notice how the relationships grew out of something they thought was innocent. (Click to show video.)
• #27: (Video plays.)
• #28: Ryan says, “I knew better than to meet in person with someone I’d met on the Internet,” but he still continues the relationship online and gives out information about where he lives. How does the adult get him to do that? (Pause for audience response.)   Ryan thinks he found a friend who understands him and puts him first. This makes Ryan drop his guard and do something he knows is dangerous. The method used to gain Ryan’s trust is called “grooming.”   Someone trying to groom you might: Flatter you. Send you gifts, like cellphones or bus tickets. Discuss adult subjects, like sex. Ask you to keep secrets, such as not telling anyone about the relationship. Turn you against your family and friends - They want you to depend on them. Share or ask for revealing images. Blackmail you - If you’ve shared revealing images or secrets with someone, they may threaten to make them public unless you send more. You should never give in. Instead, tell an adult you trust immediately so they can help report it to law enforcement.   Examples from the news An adult convinced a 15-year-old MA teen to send him nude photos by pretending to be in the modeling industry. He then threatened to distribute the photos unless she had sex with him.16 An adult manipulated teen boys into performing sex acts on webcam and then threatened to publish the videos on pornography websites if the boys did not continue performing sex acts for him.17
• #29: If someone online sends you an inappropriate request, here are some steps you can take: Don’t engage them - Refuse to talk about sex, and don’t accept or share sexual images. Block them or unfriend them. Don’t meet them offline. Tell an adult you trust.   Telling an adult you trust is important even if you’ve already handled the situation. Some teens don’t want to talk to an adult because they: Worry the adult will overreact. Are afraid they’ll be blamed. Think the adult can’t help. Are embarrassed.   But telling someone like a teacher, school counselor, parent or other relative can be a good move. They can help you take next steps, such as deciding what evidence to save. They can also help you get some perspective on the situation. No one should make you uncomfortable online, especially adults. Get an adult that you feel comfortable talking with to help you handle and report the situation.   Suggested activity Divide the audience into pairs and have each pair answer the question, “What advice would you give a friend who was thinking of meeting someone offline?” If you have more time, ask the pairs to act out their scenarios with one teen giving advice and the other teen receiving advice.
• #30: An adult can also help you report to law enforcement and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. The CyberTipline works with law enforcement to help investigate sexual solicitations. You can report: Anyone who sends you adult images. Anyone who asks you to send images of yourself. Anyone who talks to you about adult subjects. Anyone who asks you to meet offline. It may seem easier to just ignore these kinds of requests instead of reporting them, but when you make a report, you help make the Internet that much safer for your friends, siblings and peers.
• #31: The last risk that we are going to discuss is one that many of you are probably aware of – cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the use of technology to bully someone. Some examples are: Creating a hate group about someone. Posting mean comments online. Photoshopping someone’s photo to embarrass them. Recording and posting fight videos. Spreading rumors and gossip through text messages. Stealing someone’s identity to create a fake profile. Some of these things may seem more like jokes or pranks than bullying to you. But even if you did not intend to hurt someone’s feelings, it can still be cyberbullying.
• #32: You’ve probably heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I want you to ask yourself, is that really true? People used words to hurt Amanda – words telling her that they’d be happy if she died and asking her to kill herself. Think about how that would make you feel. Perhaps you would: Have low self-esteem. Feel lonely and isolated from friends and family. Be nervous about going online or to school. Sometimes teens who are cyberbullied feel like hurting themselves, although suicide is rare. If a cyberbullied teen does commit suicide, he or she is usually dealing with other problems too. But it shouldn’t take that type of tragedy for us to care about people who are being cyberbullied. We can all be careful about what we do and say to people, both on- and offline. And if you know that one of your friends is thinking about harming his or herself, bring it to the attention of a teacher, school counselor or other trusted adult immediately. (If your state has a local suicide hotline, you may want to share the contact information here. Or, you may want to share the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255. ) Suggested activity Ask teens to share aloud about how being cyberbullied would make them feel or have them write a paragraph from the perspective of someone who is being cyberbullied.
• #33: If you are being cyberbullied, it may feel like there’s nothing you can do, but that isn’t true. Here are some steps you can take: Don’t respond - That could make things worse. Block the bully - Check out what options the websites and your cellphone provider have for blocking other users. Set up new accounts - Make sure that only people you trust can contact you. Make a report - Many websites have terms of service which prohibit cyberbullying and will remove offensive posts. Talk to an adult you trust. Some teens don’t want to tell an adult if they’re being cyberbullied. They may worry they’ll be told to stay offline or think that an adult can’t help. But adults can be very helpful in dealing with cyberbullying. They can: Help you set up new accounts, especially if you need a new cellphone number. Decide if you need to save the messages and who to report them to. Talk to your school - If a classmate is bullying you, your teachers and other school administrators may be able to help. Work with law enforcement - If the bullies are threatening to harm you, have your trusted adult report it to law enforcement immediately. Offer support - Sometimes it just helps to know that someone is on your side and available if you need to talk.
• #34: If you aren’t being cyberbullied, you may know someone who is experiencing it. Online there are often many bystanders – people who see the bullying happen, but aren’t involved. Bystanders may want to help, but are often afraid that: The bully will turn on them. They will be labeled a “snitch.” That saying something will make the bullying worse. But bystanders are important. They can help bring cyberbullying to an end by making it clear that bullying behaviors won’t be tolerated in their schools and friend groups. If you are comfortable standing up to a bully, then you can try the following steps:19 Don’t encourage bullying behavior - For example, don’t “like” or share mean comments and posts. Don’t participate in the bullying just to fit in. Stand up for the victim - You can offer support through actions such as sending a friendly text message, making a positive post on their page or walking with them in the hallway. Report the bullying to the website or service provider and to an adult you trust. Suggested activities Ask the audience to work with the person or people next to them to brainstorm more ways that bystanders can help cyberbullying victims.
• #35: Sometimes people feel like they have good reasons to cyberbully someone, like if that person has been bullying them too. But a cyberbullying situation can easily get out of control, and you don’t know what could happen. Remember, even though you’re behind a screen, you’re talking to real people. Just because you can’t see their reactions doesn’t mean they weren’t hurt. Imagine how those comments would make you feel.   If you’re tempted to cyberbully, remember: While you don’t have to like everyone, you can keep critical comments to yourself. You don’t have to forward rumors or embarrassing photos. You don’t have to comment on insulting or harassing posts.   Instead of cyberbullying, focus on creating a better online environment by treating others with respect.   Suggested resource You may want to review the school’s rules about bullying and online harassment and its specific consequences. You may also want to review the state’s laws about cyberbullying and talk to the audience about those.   Examples from the news Two FL teenagers were charged with aggravated stalking of a minor under 16 after they set up a fake profile for a classmate. They had altered images of her to make it look like she was engaged in sexual acts.20 20 high school students in OR were suspended after tweeting and retweeting that a teacher at their school flirts with her students.21 Middle school students in CA were investigated by law enforcement for allegedly hacking into a classmate’s Instagram account and placing sexually derogatory content on it.22
• #37: Some people think that what they do online is separate from their “real” lives. But as we’ve seen today, what we do online matters offline too. Make the choice to create a safe and positive on- and offline environment at school and with your friends by: Being careful about what you share. Not cyberbullying or encouraging it. Not asking or pressuring anyone into sharing inappropriate content. Reporting inappropriate online behavior. Most importantly, don’t forget to communicate with the adults you trust about what you do online. You don’t have to wait for something bad to happen. Take the lead and show them all of the ways that you are a responsible digital citizen.