“Cyber-Bullying, Sexting , Social Networking and the Law”

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, emails)

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 email • 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? • 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 • Report the incident to the police • Police Investigation can lead to potential criminal charges: • Disorderly Conduct • Cyber-stalking • Harassment by Electronic Device • Child Pornography if inappropriate photos

10. Legal Consequences of Cyber ullying • 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 • 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

11. Resources for cyber-bullying • http://www.isafe.org/ • http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying • http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/ • http://www.cyberbullying.us/ • http://www.cyberbully.org/ • http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/

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… “TEXTING” • 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” 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 “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

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 • http://www.wiredsafety.org • http://www.stopcyberbullying.org • http://www.thenationalcampaign.org

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 • www.getnetwise.org • www.iKeepSafe.org • www.i-safe.org • www.wiredsafety.org • www.staysafe.org

25. The Internet isn’t all bad…