Tag Archives: Social Media Reporting

Home / Posts tagged "Social Media Reporting"

Discussing Social Media and Sexting with Kids and
Teens

Social Media Best Practices

Today’s teens and tweens are connected to one another, and to the world, through digital technology more than any previous generation. Recent data indicates that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have exceeded e-mail as the favored communication method in all age groups. Although today’s tweens and teens may be more tech savvy than their parents, their lack of maturity and life experience can quickly get them into trouble with these new social platforms. That’s why it’s important for parents to speak with their children of all ages about social media and monitor their online social media use to help them navigate this new online social world. How parents talk with their kids and teens will differ slightly by age depending on the topic being discussed. Here are some helpful tips to help begin that expedition with your family.

Explore these technologies personally. There is simply no better way than to create a profile yourself. It will also allow you to “friend” your kids and track their activity online.

Make it clear that their use of technology is something you want and need to know about.

  • For kids of all ages, ask daily: “Have you used the computer and the Internet today?”
  • Technology use will differ by age. Tweens are likely to be using more instant messaging and texting, while teens use those technologies and also networking sites such as Facebook. (These tools often are referred to as social networking “platforms”.) Ask daily how your family used those tools with questions such as: “What did you write on Facebook today?” “Any new chats recently?” “Did anyone text you today?”
  • Share a bit about your daily social media use as a way to promote daily conversation about your kids’ online habits.
  • Get your kids talking about their social media lives if you can just so you know exactly what they are doing.

Keep the computer in a prominent part of your home, such as the family room or kitchen, so that you can check on what your kids are doing online and how much time they are spending.

Ask other parents what their kids of similar ages are using for social media. Ask your kids about those technologies as a starting point for discussion. If they are in the same peer group, there is a good chance they are all using the same platforms together. For example:

  • For teens: “Mrs. Smith told me Jennifer uses Facebook. Is that something you’ve thought of doing? Do you already have a profile? If you do, I’d like to see it.”
  • For tweens and older elementary school kids: “Are you planning on meeting up with kids on Club Penguin today? I’d love to see how that works.” Or, “Let’s check your text log today together. I’d like to see who’s been texting you.”

For all ages, explain that everything sent over the Internet or a cell phone can be shared with the entire world, so it is important they use good judgment in sending messages and pictures and set privacy settings on social media sites accordingly.

  • Chat with kids of every age what “good judgment” means and the consequences of poor judgment, ranging from minor punishment to possible legal action in the case of “sexting” or bullying.
  • Remember to make a point of discouraging kids from gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying or damaging someone’s reputation using texting or other tools. 
  • To keep kids safe, have your kids and teens show you where the privacy features are for every social media platform they are using. The more private, the less likely inappropriate material will be received by your child, or sent to their circle of friends.
  • Be aware of the ages of use for sites your tweens and older elementary school kids want to use.  Many sites are for age 13 and older, and the sites for younger kids do require parental consent to use.

Be present where your kids are online: IM, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Have a policy requiring that you and your child “friend” each other. This is one way of showing your child you are there, too, and will provide a check and balance system by having an adult within arm’s reach of their profile. This is important for kids of all ages, including teens.

Show your kids you know how to use what they are using, and are willing to learn what you may not know how to do.

Develop a strategy for monitoring your kids’ online social media use, and be sure you follow through. Some families may check once a week and others more sporadically. You may want to say, “Today I’ll be checking your computer and cell phone.”  The older your kids are, the more often you should check.

Consider installing tracking systems to monitor your child’s email, chat, IM, and image content. Parental controls on your computer or from your Internet service provider, Google Desktop, or commercial programs are all reasonable alternatives.

Enforce time limits for Internet and cell phone use. Learn the warning signs of trouble: skipping activities, meals and homework for social media; weight loss or gain; a drop in grades. If these issues are transpiring due to your child being online when they should be eating, sleeping, participating in school or social activities, your child may have a problem with Internet or social media addiction. Contact your Pediatrician for advice if you notice these symptoms.

Monitor chat logs, emails, files and social networking profiles for inappropriate content, friends, messages, and images periodically. Be honest and let your kids know what you are doing.

Multitasking can be dangerous – even deadly. Be sure to emphasize to teens the importance of not texting, Facebooking, using the phone, listening to ear buds or earphones, or engaging in related distracting activities while driving. These forms of distracted driving are illegal in many states because they are so dangerous. And warn kids of all ages about using mobile devices while walking, biking, babysitting, or doing other things that require their complete attention.

The Conundrum of “Sexting”

“Sexting” refers to sending a text message with pictures of children or teens that are inappropriate, naked, or engaged in sex acts. Based on a recent survey, about 20% of teen boys and girls have sent such messages. The emotional pain it causes can be enormous for the child in the picture and also to the sender and receiver – often with legal implications. Parents must begin the difficult conversation about sexting before it becomes a problem and introduce the issue as soon as a child is old enough to have a cell phone. Here are some tips for how to start these discussions with your children:

  • Speak to your kids, even if the issue hasn’t affected your community. “Have you heard of sexting?” “Tell me what you think it is.” For the initial part of the discussion, it is important to first learn what your child’s understanding is of the issue and then add to it an age appropriate explanation.
  • Use relevant examples for your child’s age. For younger children with cell phones who do not yet know about sex, alert them that text messages should never contain pictures of people – kids or adults – without their clothes on, kissing or touching each other in ways that they’ve never seen before. For older children, use the term “sexting” and give more specifics about sex acts they may be aware of. For teens, be very specific that “sexting” often involves pictures of a sexual nature and is considered pornography.
  • Ensure that kids of all ages understand that sexting is serious and considered a crime in many jurisdictions. In all communities, if they “sext”, there will be serious consequences, quite possibly involving the police, suspension from school, and notes on the sexter’s permanent record that could affect their chances of getting into college or getting a job. 
  • Experts have noted that peer pressure can play a major role in the sending of texts, with parties being a major contributing factor. Confiscating cell phones at gatherings of tweens and teens is one way to reduce this temptation.
  • Watch headlines and the news for stories about “sexting” that illustrate the very real consequences for both senders and receivers of these images. “Have you seen this story?” “What did you think about it?” “What would you do if you were this child?” Practice ways they can reply if asked to participate in inappropriate texting.
  • Urge school and town assemblies to educate parents, teachers and students.

Cyberbullying in School: Preclusion and Assistance

How to Handle the Aftermath When Technology Becomes Torture

A survey by the Cyberbullying Research Center concluded that almost 34% of students in middle and high school had experienced cyberbullied in 2016 – the highest percentage reported since the organization began tracking cyberbullying 10 years ago. As this problem grows, it’s imperative for students, parents and educators to understand the effects of cyberbullying and what can be done to prevent it. This blog post provides a holistic approach to the issue and features information about the types of cyberbullying, how students can protect themselves and what measures can be taken to deal with it after it occurs.

Cyberbullying Defined

Cyberbullying happens when someone harasses, torments, threatens or humiliates someone else via the use of technology – including text messages, social media sites, email, instant messages and websites. Similar to face-to-face bullying, cyberbullying can present in several different kinds of behaviors. Here are some common cyberbullying examples.

Flaming

Flaming transpires when individuals post derogatory comments on someone’s web or social media page or via instant messages, emails or chat rooms. This usually happens during an online fight, and the communication often contains angry, foul language.

Impersonation

“Probably the most common form of impersonation involves fake accounts or profiles designed to impersonate the victim. One form of impersonation, known as ‘fraping,’ involves someone gaining unauthorized access to the victim’s social media account, impersonating them and posting inappropriate content as the victim,” says Margaret Arsenault, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Face2Face Youth Group Inc. “While some kids may think of it as a harmless prank, impersonating someone online and damaging their very real – and arguably fragile – reputation can have serious consequences. We remind the kids we interact with that once something gets out to the Internet, it’s impossible to control it. Even things that are deleted can exist as many, many electronic copies elsewhere and resurface.”

Outing

This kind of cyberbullying involves sharing someone’s private information in order to publicly humiliate him or her. Outing can contain posting photos, emails, text messages or videos on the Internet or forwarding them to other individuals.

Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking occurs when an individual uses technology to repeatedly harass, intimidate and threaten another individual. Cyberstalkers may track of their victims and make attempts to meet them. Many cases of cyberstalking involve adults grooming teenagers to have sexual relationships with them.

Catfishing

“Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone they are not and sometimes assumes another person’s identity online, including the identity of the victim,” says Jennifer Ponce, Prevention Education Manager with Laura’s House. “They might do this to post inappropriate content or manipulate and hurt other relationships the victim has online.”

Harassment

Harassment involves the relentless sending of malicious, abusive or threatening messages to an individual or group online. This can be done to the victims in public or private.

Trickery

Similar to outing, trickery involves revealing private information about another individual. When someone participates in this type of cyberbullying, the person befriends someone and gains his or her trust with the specific intention of sharing that person’s embarrassing information online.

Denigration

This happens when someone posts rumors and gossip about someone online. Cyberbullies use denigration to destroy the target’s relationships and reputation.

Trolling

“This is the granddaddy of all cyberbullying techniques. It’s a term almost as old as the Internet itself. Trolling is the deliberate act of provoking a response through the use of some type of inflammatory statements – such as using insults and bad language – in an online forum,” Arsenault says. “Back in the day, trolling was found on bulletin boards and on similar online forums. Today trolls ‘live’ on social networking sites. The goal is generally to incite someone to anger, perhaps so they post something inappropriate or embarrassing. Trolling is often done to try to make the troll feel better by making others upset.”

Exclusion

“Exclusion is creating groups or events and excluding someone,” Ponce says. “This can also happen by not tagging someone in a photo or inviting them to an event, as well as excluding someone from an online conversation.”

While it is important to understand what the different cyberbullying behaviors are, in order to get a comprehensive overview, it’s also important to understand the bullies themselves and why they do what they do to their peers. There are many reasons that students may participate in these behaviors, including boredom, revenge, anger and to provoke reactions from their victims.

Moreover, the anonymous nature of the Internet makes it easier for individuals to cyberbully others, especially if they are social outcasts themselves who would not have the courage to bully anyone in person. In other instances, some people become cyberbullies because they are part of the in crowd, and they are mimicking the behaviors of their own peer groups to gain acceptance.

The Impact of Cyberbullying

Being the victim of bullying is already a stressful experience, but when the Internet is added to the mix, it can be particularly painful due to the reach that the bully has on the victim, according to Arsenault.

“Before the Internet, kids who were bullied at school often had a respite when they got home. Today, bullying happens in person and online, so it can be incessant,” she says. “For those victims of bullying who spend a lot of time online, especially on social media, they are literally subjected to the bullying and its negative effects around the clock.”

Furthermore, the indelible nature of the Internet can amplify the stress and hurt that the victims of cyberbullying feel, which is ultimately the bully’s goal.

“In these instances, the victim feels even more powerless since it is very easy to disseminate information online and very hard to retrieve and remove what is already out there,” Ponce says. “A lot of times, a cyberbully may use the Internet or cell phone as a weapon of choice, and the bullying can very easily spill over into more harm at school with their peers.”

As a result of the persistent nature of cyberbullying, there can be a lot of negative effects that students can experience, such as:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Decreased academic performance
  • Feelings of isolation
  • Changes in eating and sleeping habits
  • Lowered self-esteem
  • Increased school absences
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and other activities
  • Using alcohol and drugs to cope
  • Withdrawing from family and friends
Self-Harm and Cyberbullying

If not monitored closely, the impact of cyberbullying can cause excessive stress and depression, and students who are victims may feel drawn to self-harm as a result of their experiences. A study published in The Journal of Medical Internet Research, students who have been cyberbullied are twice as likely to engage in self-harming behaviors and to have suicidal thoughts than those who have not.

Conversely, the victims of bullying are not the only ones who are vulnerable to self-harm and suicidal behaviors: The study also indicates that young people who cyberbully others are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing these feelings than those who don’t.

What to do if You’re the Victim of Cyberbullying

Students who are victims of cyberbullying may feel so overwhelmed that they don’t know how to handle the situation. Here are some steps they can take to manage these situations and get the help they need.

Ignore the bully.

More often than not, cyberbullies will stop their behavior if their victim just ignores them. Bullies crave reactions, so students should keep in mind that reacting with similar behaviors in order to make bullies stop will not work. In fact, responding will probably intensify the situation and make it worse.

Talk to a trusted adult.

Students should be aware that they don’t have to suffer through cyberbullying in silence. When they experience it, they should let their parents know what’s going on so they can get help and emotional support. Additionally, telling someone at the school, like a teacher, coach or counselor, can encourage the abuse to stop.

Block the bully.

“The student should immediately block the bully on the platform and any other social media sites with which they are able to contact the victim. Every social media site has a method to block other users. Chances are your kids know how, even if the parents don’t,” Arsenault says. “This prevents the cyberbully from sending any more messages, pictures or videos to the child. In most cases, blocking someone prevents them from being able to locate your profile on the service altogether.”

Switch your email or phone number.

Another way that students can cut off a cyberbully is by switching his or her email address and phone number. This way, the person has no way to get in contact.

Gather evidence.

“Some social media platforms use temporary posts, such as Snapchat, and virtually all platforms allow users to delete their own images and messages, sometimes even those sent privately. Taking a screenshot of the offending post is a record that can be used to substantiate a complaint, even if the bully later deletes the posts in question,” Arsenault says.

Contact the police if necessary.

In some cases, such as with photos that are considered child pornography, the evidence of cyberbullying is not legal to have, so documenting it will get the student, or his or her parents, into legal trouble. When this occurs, parents should contact the police to document the instances of cyberbullying and take legal action against the person committing it. Also, victims of cyberbullying can contact the police if threats of violence have been received.

Report the website.

If someone is being bullied via a website or social media platform, that person should contact the site to make the administrators aware of the issue. Since bullying behaviors are against the terms of service, getting the person kicked off the site can make the bully stop harassing the victim.

Devise a safety plan.

“We always encourage our adolescents to create a safety plan if they are in an unhealthy relationship; this includes bullying and cyberbullying. Part of that plan might be changing your passwords, blocking the people who are bullying you and reporting any negative or offensive posts,” Ponce says.

Obtain additional support.

“There are a lot of local organizations that are here to help and can provide valuable resources to an adolescent who has experienced any type of bullying,” says Ponce. “If a student is feeling distressed or anxious, or having feelings of sadness or depression about the situation, they shouldn’t be afraid to seek professional help to start healing and navigate the process. The school counselor is also another valuable resource. Finding friends, family and outside support services is essential in helping an adolescent through this.”

Avoid Self-blame.

Students may think they are at fault when they’re the victims of cyberbullying, particularly if the bullies are people they’ve had friendships or romantic relationships with. It’s important for them to realize that they are not responsible for how other people are treating them, and they should not feel guilty about it.

Cyberbullying Prevention

Because the consequences of cyberbullying can be so severe  –  for the bully as well as the victim  –  it’s essential for teachers, parents and even other students, to work together to prevent cyberbullying. Here are some strategies that can help.

Teachers
  • It’s OK for them to report any online abuse that happens to them.
  • Participate in cyberbullying prevention training to better understand it and learn strategies for addressing it.
  • Educate students about what cyberbullying behaviors are and why they’re wrong.
  • Foster an environment of mutual respect and tolerance in the classroom.
  • Integrate the Internet and social media into lesson plans to teach students how to be respectful to others online.
  • Work closely with parents so they understand cyberbullying.
  • Employ anti-cyberbullying policies in the classroom.
Parents
  • Monitor children’s online activities.
  • Seize children’s mobile devices if they are caught mistreating people online.
  • Educate about children how to use technology responsibly.
  • Be aware of whom children are speaking to, and making friends with, online.
  • Understand the signs of someone who is a bullying victim.
  • Learn how to use the technology that children are using in order to get an assessment of their online world.
Students
  • Think before making every post online, and avoid creating posts that can have a negative impact on your reputation.
  • Learn what cyberbullying is and what behaviors are involved in cyberbullying.
  • Avoid posting inappropriate photos online because they can be the fuel that cyberbullies use.
  • Treat everything and everyone with respect.
Cyberbullying Laws

Cyberbullying behaviors are not just an annoyance; in some states, they’re a crime.

Social Media Safety Tips

While the Internet can be a valuable resource to help students prepare for tests and conduct research for assignments, as well as stay in touch with their friends, it’s still important for them to be safe when using technology – specifically social media sites. Here are some tips to help teens stay safe online.

  • Never share password information with others.
  • Don’t post address, telephone number or school location online.
  • Use strong privacy settings, so only friends and family can view posts.
  • Be careful when clicking on links, and don’t click links from unknown individuals.
  • Don’t accept friend requests from strangers.
  • Use strong passwords and update them frequently.
  • Don’t respond to abusive posts.
  • Never open attachments from unknown individuals.
  • Don’t allow programs to track location.
Cyberstalking Anonymous Reporting Apps

Sandy Hook Promise

STOPit Solutions

Social Media Discussion Points for Parents

Just the Facts:
  • Social Media is not all bad or all good, how the kids use it is what matters.
  • Their decisions on usage have consequences, some serious sexting/legal.
  • Social media contributes to loneliness, loneliest generation on record.
  • Kids are losing the ability to develop and the know how to meaningfully connect with others.
  • How kids use social media elevates feelings of anxiety and depression, not simply because they use it but it’s what they are using it for and or exposed to.
    • Boys: Gaming, and not such a need to be seen/have a presence known.
    • Girls:  visual platforms, videos, and pictures.
  • Teens seek affirmation on social media, as when parents were themselves kids; however, the affirmation is given very quickly now.
  • Social Media usage is a privilege and not a right, must make sure kids are training and educated on the online world and have clear expectations of their usage and subsequent responsibilities.
  • The more things change the more they stay the same, just a different platform.
  • The Internet seems to have created a new way of doing old things, rather than being a technology that changes the manner in which people live their lives.
    • Relationships, socialization, popularity, flirting, etc.      
  • What kids are posting may not be really what they are feeling.
    • True feelings and or emotions may be hiding in plain sight.
  • When we know better, we do better.
  • Offline stress/issues carry over to the online world.
  • 70% of communication is not around actual words, body language.
  • Trend continues to move to visual effects over texting.   

Parent Involvement

  • Develop a plan around social media regulation with your kids.
    • I.e., setting time limits, putting it down at dinner table, time before bed.
  • Parents need to work with the kids on developing a healthy balanced view of what social media is and what can happen relatable to the real world.
  • Parents need to use their own examples of how social media has made them feel left out of things and that that’s OK, how they coped with that. Talk about not being included.
  • Parents need to model social media usage and behavior to be consistent with expectations of kids.
  • Parent need to talk to their kids about those other kids who may be left out and to teach kids to be thoughtful of those who may be left use.