1. “Cyberbullying” and “Sexting” Seneca Middle School

2. Technology – Pros and Cons Positive Aspects: Positive Aspects: Schoolwork Schoolwork Learning/ Cultural Opportunities Learning/ Cultural Opportunities Self expression Self expression Communication Communication Negative Aspects: Negative Aspects: Disturbing/ offensive materials Predators Illegal Activity Bullying

3. Why do kids bully other kids online? You can’t see me/ I can’t see you You can’t see me/ I can’t see you Cyberbullies feel they can act anonymously Cyberbullies feel they can act anonymously It is more difficult for them to feel empathy It is more difficult for them to feel empathy Is often done rapidly, with little time to think. Is often done rapidly, with little time to think.

4. Cyberbullying Quiz Are you a Cyberbully? Often, people who are victims are also bullies. Before you feel too bad for yourself, take the quiz below to find if you, too, are part of the cyberbullying problem! Rate yourself on the following point scale according to if, and how many times, you have done the following activities. Give yourself: 0 points if you’ve never done it, 1 point if you have done it 1 or 2 times, 2 points if you have done it 3-5 times, 3 points if you have done it more than 5 times.

5. Cyberbullying Quiz - 2 Have you ever... ___Signed on to someone else’s screen name to gather info? ___Sent an e-mail or online greeting card from someone else’s account? ___Impersonated someone over IM or online? ___Teased or frightened someone over IM? ___Not told someone who you really are online, telling them to “guess”? ___Forwarded a private IM conversation or e- mail without the permission of the other person? ___Changed your profile or away message so as to embarrass or frighten someone? ___Posted pictures or information about someone on a Web site without their consent? ___Created an Internet poll, either over IM or on a Web site, about someone without their consent? ___Used information found online to follow, tease, embarrass or harass someone in person? ___Sent rude or scary things to someone, even if you were just joking? ___Used bad language online? ___Signed someone else up for something online without their permission? ___Used an IM or e-mail address that looked like someone else’s? ___Used someone else’s password for any reason without their permission? ___Hacked into someone else’s computer or sent a virus or Trojan horse to them? ___Insulted someone in an interactive game room? ___Posted rude things or lies about someone online? ___Voted at an online bashing poll or posted to a guestbook saying rude or mean things?

6. Cyberbullying Quiz - 3 Now calculate your total score: ___________ What your score means: 0 – 5 Points: Cyber Saint Congratulations! You’re a cyber saint! Your online behavior is exemplary! Keep up the good work! 6-10 Points: Cyber Risky Well, you’re not perfect, but few people are. Chances are you haven’t done anything terrible and were just having fun, but try not to repeat your behaviors, since they are all offenses. Keep in mind the pain that your fun might be causing others! 11-18 Points: Cyber Sinner Your online behavior needs to be improved! You have done way too many cyber no-no’s! Keep in mind that these practices are dangerous, wrong, and punishable, and try to clean up that cyber record! More than 18: Cyber Bully Put on the brakes and turn that PC/MAC/text-messaging device around! You are headed in a very bad direction. You qualify, without doubt, as a cyberbully. You need to sign off and think about where that little mouse of yours has been clicking before serious trouble results for you and/or your victim(s), if it hasn’t happened already!

7. Videos Talent Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seOQyMvG99w&feature=related http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/bullying/cyber_Tal entShow_ViralVideo.wmv http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/bullying/cyber_Tal entShow_ViralVideo.wmvKitchen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYaWNYXpBis&NR=1 http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/bullying/cyber_Kit chen_ViralVideo.wmv http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/bullying/cyber_Kit chen_ViralVideo.wmv

8. Cyberbullying – Tragic Consequences Megan Meier, 13, began receiving nasty messages from a boy after a few weeks of an online flirtation with him via her MySpace account, ending with one that suggested “the world would be a better place” without her. Megan, believing she had been rejected by "Josh," committed suicide in her home. Six weeks after Megan’s death, her parents learned that "Josh Evans" never existed. He was an online character created by Lori Drew, then 47, who lived four houses down the street and was the mother of one of Megan's former friends. In a highly unusual use of a federal law generally employed in computer fraud cases, a federal grand jury indicted Ms. Drew in May 2008 on charges that she had used a phony online identity to trick and taunt Megan. She pled not guilty to the charges and the case went to trial in November 2008. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFsfDLCkfQU http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/media/

9. Cyberbullying Video Let’s Fight It Together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNumIY9D 7uY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNumIY9D 7uY&feature=relatedor http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullfilm. aspx http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullfilm. aspx

10. Sexting Is the use of a cell phone’s text message function to send lewd pictures or messages to others Is the use of a cell phone’s text message function to send lewd pictures or messages to others Can cause embarrassment, ridicule, and bullying Can cause embarrassment, ridicule, and bullying Can wind up on the Internet or in the hands of sexual predators Can wind up on the Internet or in the hands of sexual predators Is child pornography, which can be prosecuted as a state or federal crime Is child pornography, which can be prosecuted as a state or federal crime

11. Sexting - 2 In Chippewa Falls, Wis., police in October charged a 17- year-old boy with using his cell phone to circulate images of a 16-year-old former girlfriend. In the case, which is still pending, the boy faces a state felony charge of exposing a child to harmful material. In Chippewa Falls, Wis., police in October charged a 17- year-old boy with using his cell phone to circulate images of a 16-year-old former girlfriend. In the case, which is still pending, the boy faces a state felony charge of exposing a child to harmful material. In January, 2009, police in Greensburg, Pa., arrested six teens on child pornography charges. Three girls under 16 are charged with manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography. Three males who attend the same high school are charged with possessing child pornography. In January, 2009, police in Greensburg, Pa., arrested six teens on child pornography charges. Three girls under 16 are charged with manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child pornography. Three males who attend the same high school are charged with possessing child pornography.

12. Sexting - Tragic Consequences March 6: 18-year-old Jesse Logan took her own life after a nude picture of her was passed around by e-mail. The image was blurred and the voice distorted, but the words spoken by a young Ohio woman are haunting. She had sent nude pictures of herself to a boyfriend. When they broke up, he sent them to other high school girls. The girls were harassing her, calling her a slut and a whore. She was miserable and depressed, afraid even to go to school. And now Jesse Logan was going on a Cincinnati television station to tell her story. Her purpose was simple: “I just want to make sure no one else will have to go through this again.” The interview was in May 2008. Two months later, Jessica Logan hanged herself in her bedroom. She was 18. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29546237#29546237

13. Video Think Before You Post!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvp-kZeoWW0&NR=1 mms://a974.v167312.c16731.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/974/16731/117 4419/stream- 1.onstreammedia.com/cdn_stream/multivu/9352/26474_Bulletin_Bo ard_300k.wmv mms://a974.v167312.c16731.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/974/16731/117 4419/stream- 1.onstreammedia.com/cdn_stream/multivu/9352/26474_Bulletin_Bo ard_300k.wmv http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/online_sexual_ex ploitation/ose_bulletinboard.wmv http://adcouncil.wmod.llnwd.net/a540/o1/adcouncil/tv/online_sexual_ex ploitation/ose_bulletinboard.wmv

14. School Consequences If you are caught sexting or cyberbullying another student, please keep in mind: You can be suspended for a very long time You can be suspended for a very long time You can be arrested and face criminal charges You can be arrested and face criminal charges This IS the school’s business and administrators WILL investigate any reports of cyberbullying or sexting

15. Strategies for Kids CYBERBULLYING How to Prevent & Respond to it How to Prevent & Respond to it 1. Always respect others When you send a message, you cannot see the impact that your words or images have on the other person. That is why it is important to always show respect to people and be careful what you say online and what images you send. If you receive an inappropriate picture or rude or nasty message about someone, do not forward it because then you become part of the cyberbullying. 2. Think before you send It is important to think before you send any images or text about yourself or someone else by email or phone and before you post information on a website. What you send can be made public very quickly and could stay online forever. 3. Treat your password like your toothbrush Don’t let anyone know your passwords! Choose hard-to-guess passwords with symbols or numbers. 4. Block the bully Most responsible websites and services allow you to block or report someone who is behaving badly. Make use of these features; they are there for a reason. 5. Don’t retaliate or reply! Replying to the bullying messages, in any way, is just what the bully wants.

16. Strategies for Kids - 2 6. Save the evidence Learn how to keep records of offending messages, pictures, or online conversations. These will help you demonstrate to others what is happening and can be used by your school or police to investigate the cyberbullying. 7. Make sure you tell You have a right NOT to be harassed and bullied online. To get help, tell: -An adult you trust -Your school -The police 8. Don’t just stand there! If you see cyberbullying going on, support the victim and report the bullying. How would you feel if no one stood up for you? If you see cyberbullying going on, support the victim and report the bullying. How would you feel if no one stood up for you?

17. Strategies for Parents Combating Cyberbullying - Tips for Parents To help keep students safe online, parents have to be aware of the types of activities kids are engaged in online and teach teens about cyber-ethics, responsibility, and Internet safety. The following are some topics to have a conversation about with your child: *The risks and benefits of the internet *Examples of inappropriate incidents that can happen online, which teens may view as harmless or normal *What they are doing online *That they should never give out personal information online (name, address, phone number, school name, etc.) *Cyberbullying and how to react if they are cyberbullied *Keeping computers in highly trafficked rooms in the house Despite our collective efforts to teach teens about cyber safety, they can still be victimized by others who cyberbully. Parents can help teens who are cyberbullied by teaching them methods that can prevent bullying:

18. Strategies for Parents - 2 *Teach teens not to respond to cyberbullies *Tell teens that they should never try to seek revenge on a bully or cyberbully *Let teens know that they can report bullying incidents to website moderators *Remind your teens to keep their passwords a secret from everyone except you *Tell your teens that it’s not their fault if they become victims of cyberbullying, but it is important for them to tell you if they are victimized. Assure them that you will not revoke their Internet privileges if they are cyberbullied *Help keep a record of bullying incidents To Learn More about Cyberbullying, Check out These Websites: www.sachem.edu/schools/seneca www.sachem.edu/schools/senecawww.sachem.edu/schools/seneca www.ncpc.org www.wiredsafety.org www.stopcyberbullying.org www.ikeepsafe.org