What’s Trending at EMS March 16, 2016 Emily Lager Sixth Grade School Counselor Michelle Ebert Teen Talk Counselor

Today’s topics include.. What “apps” are our students at Eastern using on their phones How this form of technology impacts our students How to provide online safety to our children ➔ When to begin? ➔ How do we talk to our kids? ➔ Is it enough to be on that site? ➔ How do we monitor usage? Are there apps to help us do this?

A random sample of EMS students from each grade level was surveyed to find out what apps are being used on their phones.

Students were polled anonymously and encouraged to be honest with responses.

Snapchat ●Photo sharing application that sends pictures and/or stories to designated people ●Picture will disappear after allotted time ●Risks → The picture never really goes away (someone can take a picture of the picture) ●Snapchat can be used to send inappropriate pictures while the perception is that it’s temporary

Instagram ●Photo and video sharing app ●Allows for creativity and is also a platform for social networking ●Risks → Location finding on posted photos and privacy setting are optional. ●Students feel “popular” by how many likes they receive on a photo and solicit validation from peers and strangers

Brighten ●App that was created to share compliments anonymously to one another ●Unfortunately, students are using this app to write negative things about one another instead (insults, criticism) ●Posts are untraceable ●Risks → Posts are completely anonymous Brighten Make someone's day

Yik Yak ●Allows users to post “yaks” which are posts; similar to tweeting, but are anonymous ●GPS knows when you are at school and the app is disabled, kids are using this app at home and in the community ●Risks → Being used for sexually explicit language, anonymous, kids are revealing really personal information

Whisper ●Statement superimposed on an image ●Anonymous confession app using visuals for self expression ●Risks → Using GPS- predators can easily find you

Music.ly ●App that enables users to create music videos for entertainment purposes ●Videos can be up to 15 seconds using instagram “filters” and play on a loop ●Instagram account can sync to music.ly ●Videos organized by hashtags ●App organizes “challenges” like lip syncing contests ●Risks → Videos can be seen by anyone, location enabled

Kik Messenger ●Instant messaging app that allows sending of videos, pictures, and GIFS (interactive emojis) ●Ability to message with a username versus a phone number ●Risks → No parental controls, rated 17+ in the app store, sexting often occurs, child pornography, strangers can find you if you have KiK

You Now ●Live video stream that a person can set up and anyone can watch constantly ●Connect via hashtags and chat anonymously ●Risks → Video is exposed to the world, anybody can access you, no privacy settings

Group Messaging ●Can start with a few friends, other people can be added ●Students may not know everyone in the group message ●Sometimes utilized to talk about other people

Having said all of this.. where do we begin? ●Continuous open dialogue with your child ●Maintain a nonjudgmental and validating approach when talking to your child ●Establish clear rules and boundaries ●Stay up to date on social media and online trends ●Identify trusted adults with your child in school and community

Be Involved! ●Students are more tech savvy than us ●You may trust your child, but what about the 700 million other children online? ●Educate yourself ●Utilize counselors and mental health professions in school- don’t be afraid to ask questions! ●There is no time like the present to start these conversations with your child ●Create a supportive and positive atmosphere so your children will want to come to you with questions

Parent Monitoring Applications Parent Kit Family Time Dashboard Curbi Mob Safety Ranger Browser Dinner Time