Safety and Education for Todays Technology Central MN Sexual Assault Center

Overview: CMSACs services Stats of Sexual Assault Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Advancing Technology Sexting- legal consequences Internet Social Networking Sites

CMSAC 15 Riverside Drive NE St. Cloud, MN (320) HELP

Services: 24 hour crisis line Medical, LE, Legal advocacy 1:1 support Support groups Referrals Resources Prevention education Emergency Financial Assistance Serving Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright Counties

Stats 1 in 3-5 females 1 in 7-10 males Before their 18 th Birthday!!

Sexual Assault vs Sexual Harassment

Sexual Assault Touching Groping Oral, Vaginal, Anal Penetration

Sexual Harassment Explicit photos Obscene Jokes Name-calling Solicitation/pressure Sexting Schools workplace

Advancing Technology 4 out of 5 teens carry a cell phone! ( Internet Text/Chat Music Videos Games Calendar Upload Photos

How far technology has come….

Cell phones vital to teens identities Social status Popularity 47% of teens state their social life would worsen or end without a cell phone!

Preferred Contact Methods: Text: 54% Call (cell phone) 38% Face to face 33% Landline phone 30% Social Network Site 25% Instant message 24% 11% (

The Texting Epidemic… 72-88% of teen cell phone users are texters 1 in 3 teens 1,000 + texts/day Boys 30/day Girls 80/day (

Sexting Sending, uploading, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit videos or photos. (National Child Safety Council)

Stats 2009 survey by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy… 20% of teens admit to sexting ( 1 in 5 teens reported having sent a sexually suggestive image or message. (

Famous Sexting Scandals….

Effects of the sexting scandals… Divorce Media Scrutiny DV Loss of sponsorship Sex rehab Fines Emotional/Psychological Pain

WHY SEXT??? Pressure Gain popularity/fame Be funny, joke around Prove commitment to a significant other Impress someone Money Response to a sexual message

ITS NOT WORTH IT!!! Dont make decisions with out thinking about how your future may be affected. Think of how quickly information can be spread via cell phones/internet!

Its also not worth it because of the…. Legal Consequences Opening a sexually explicit photo from a minor CHILD PORN CHARGES Minors sending sexually explicit messages may face PRODUCING, POSSESSING, DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORN CHARGES

Felony Child Pornography Charges: Lifetime SO Registry Prison Time Fines Serious Reputation Damage

Felony: 365+ days in jail/prison $3,000 minimum fine Both *Nearly impossible to find employment/ housing as a SO.

In The News… Police Investigate Sexting At Chambersburg High School Police: Upwards Of 30 Students Possibly Involved Last week, eight Perry County teens were charged with child pornography for allegedly recording sex acts on their cell phones and sending them to others. 5 Va. students charged with sexting Five Virginia high school students have been charged with felony counts related to cell phone-transmitted pornographic images, officials said…. …The most recent charges stem from a female student at Franklin County High School taking a male student's phone into a bathroom to take pictures of herself, the Times reported. Lacey, Washington: Teens face felony charges for Sexting

This year in Wisconsin, a 17-year-old was charged with possessing child pornography after he posted naked pictures of his 16-year-old ex- girlfriend online. In Alabama, authorities arrested four middle-school students for exchanging nude photos of themselves. In Rochester, N.Y., a 16-year-old boy is now facing up to seven years in prison for forwarding a nude photo of a 15-year-old girlfriend to his friends. In the News…

Sexting surprise: Teens face child porn charges 6 Pa. high school students busted after sharing nude photos via cell phones In an unusual legal case arising from the increasingly popular practice known as sexting, six Pennsylvania high school students are facing child pornography charges after three teenage girls allegedly took nude or semi-nude photos of themselves and shared them with male classmates via their cell phones. The female students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pa., all 14- or 15-years-old, face charges of manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography while the boys, who are 16 and 17, face charges of possession, according to WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, which published the story on its Web site on Tuesday. Police told the station that the photos were discovered in October, after school officials seized a cell phone from a male student who was using it in violation of school rules and found a nude photo of a classmate on it. Police were called in and their investigation led them to other phones containing more photos, it said. tech_and_gadgets/

Example: Jane takes a nude photo of her self and sends it to John. John forwards the image to Tim, and Tim opens the image. Jane production/distribution John possession/distribution Tim possession

Other Consequences… Social repercussions Being judged Excluded by peers, families Targets of rumors Harassment Embarrassment Disappointment The image may follow a person forever, damaging academic, social and employment opportunities.

How can I protect myself? NEVER take or send sexually suggestive photos. Once you send something via electronic devices…it is NO LONGER PRIVATE. THINK about the message BEFORE you press send. You could be creating a reputation you CANNOT escape.

How can I protect myself? Consider the victims. Many suffer humiliation, depression, and some even attempt suicide. Dont let anyone pressure you into sexting. Repot any sexts you receive to a trusted adult. Dont delete the message, it could be evidence in a criminal investigation.

How can I protect myself? MAKE IT STOP. If someone doesnt stop sending you explicit photos, block their number from your cell phone.

Social Networking Sites (SNS)

SNS Pros and Cons + Create online communities + Ways for people to express themselves + Keep in contact with friends/family + Share pics, videos, personal updates, etc. -Gives easy access to online predators -You never know who is on the other side of the computer screen -Display personal info.

Safety Tips for SNS… DO NOT post full name, address, phone # Do not post info. that easily identifies you Be careful when updating statuses IE places app on FB

Safety Tips for SNS… Only post info you are comfortable with others seeing. Many people can see your page! (parents, teachers, the college you want to apply to in a couple years, the job you might want to apply to in 5 years, etc.) Look into the sites privacy Settings Be wary if a strange person adds you as a friend Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet in person.

Remember…. Once you post something online you can never take it back. Re-consider before you post a photo. It can be altered and broadcasted in ways you may not be happy about. TRUST YOUR GUT if you have suspicions. You could prevent someone else from being a victim.

Questions/Comments?