AFTER NBC5 INVESTIGATION: 10 Ways To Protect Teens From Sexting, Anonymous Image Boards

AFTER NBC5 INVESTIGATION: 10 Ways To Protect Teens From Sexting, Anonymous Image Boards

/ May 24, 2017 / Comments Off on AFTER NBC5 INVESTIGATION: 10 Ways To Protect Teens From Sexting, Anonymous Image Boards / Education, Police & Fire, Public Safety, Schools

A recent news story by NBC 5 Investigates has prompted some local school districts to inform residents and parents about the dangers of sexting and anonymous image boards. Young females nudes get uploaded on purpose most of the time without the woman’s consent or knowledge, finding similar pictures on adult sites like https://www.hdpornvideo.xxx/?hl=th isn’t uncommon.

The NBC5 story says that it has uncovered anonymous online image boards bearing the logos of Chicago-area and Illinois high schools, in which users request and trade nude photographs of women, purportedly former students. According to NBC5, the Kane County high schools associated with those students include:

  • Barrington High School – Barrington, IL
  • Dundee-Crown High School – Carpentersville, IL
  • Geneva High School – Geneva, IL
  • Jacobs High School – Algonquin, IL
  • Kaneland High School – Maple Park, IL
  • St. Charles East – St. Charles, IL
  • St. Charles North – St. Charles, IL
  • South Elgin High School – South Elgin, IL

“We are saddened to learn that Geneva High School is among the schools on the list,” Geneva High School’s website says. “Geneva High School strongly condemns these activities. While we have no evidence that any Geneva student, current or former, is involved with these boards, we want to remind our students and alumni to make good decisions for themselves and others when it comes to sharing pictures via text or online.

“Please read these tips from the Cyberbullying Research Center to ensure your safety. And, if you are ever the victim of cyberbullying or know that someone else has been a victim, please reach out to a teacher or school administrator, or your local police department immediately. We are here to help.”

SOURCE: Geneva High School website, NBC5

Sexting: Advice For Teens

SOURCE: Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D. and Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., Cyberbullying Research Center

1. Delete any explicit images sent to you. Even having these images on your phone could land you in a heap of trouble.

2. Do not distribute explicit images. If someone sends you an explicit image of themselves or someone else, so not pass it on to anyone else. Try to think about how you would feel if someone sent similar pictures of you to someone else that you didn’t know or wouldn’t want to see.

3. Ignore or flat-out reject any requests from others for inappropriate images. It is just not worth it, no matter how much you like the other person—even if you think you can trust them. The potential risk is just too high. If they really care about you, they will understand.

4. Block individuals who make you uncomfortable with how they talk to you (or what they send to you).

5. Distract the person requesting inappropriate pictures from you. Engage them in conversation about something else, or direct them to a cool YouTube video you just saw, or an app you think they would like. If they continue to ask about the pics, let them know that they should just chill out.

6. Don’t support your own objectification. You are not a piece of meat. You don’t want people to like you because of your body, but because of your mind and heart. Giving in and sending explicit images just feeds their appetite for more, and continues to devalue your worth.

7. Sexting doesn’t define a healthy, functional romantic relationship. Sure, it’s fun, flirtatious, and risqué, but remember that these images could be seen by a wider audience (including your parents, teachers, or the police).

8. Send images that are suggestive, but not explicit. Keep private parts covered at all times. It’s fine to send your partner a picture, just make sure it’s PG-13 and not X-rated. Even so, realize that these too may be broadcast to others. If you wouldn’t be concerned if your whole school (or grandma!) saw it, its probably OK.

9. If you receive (or someone shows you) an explicit image of someone you know, contact that person to tell them that their images are being circulated. You would want someone to tell you if an image of yours like that was going around.

10. Inform an adult you trust if you are concerned about the well-being of the person in the image. If you are worried about the person who is in the picture, whether they are a friend or not, you may need to get help from an adult.

Advice For Parents

1. Make sure your child is (and feels) safe. The safety and well-being of your child should always be the foremost priority. Convey unconditional support. Par- ents must demonstrate to their children through words and actions that they both desire the same end result: stopping the cyberbullying.

2. Talk with and listen to your child. Engage your child in conversation about what is going on. Refrain from freaking out. Take the time to learn exactly what happened, and the nuanced context in which it occurred. Also, don’t minimize the situation or make excuses for the aggressor.

3. Collect evidence. Print out or make screenshots of conversations, messages, pictures, and any other items which can serve as clear proof that your child is being cyberbullied. Keep a record of any and all incidents to as- sist in the investigative process. Also, keep notes on rele- vant details like location, frequency, severity of harm, third-party involvement or witnesses, and the backstory.

4. Work with the school. All schools in the U.S. have a bullying policy, and most cover cyberbullying. Seek the help of administrators if the target and aggressor go to the same school. Your child has the right to feel safe at school, and educators are responsible to ensure this through an investigation and appropriate response.

5. Refrain from contacting the parents of the bully. Some parents confronted with accusations that their child is engaging in cyberbullying may become defensive and therefore may not be receptive to your thoughts. Be judicious in your approach to avoid addition- al drama and possible retaliation.

6. Contact the content provider. Cyberbully- ing violates the Terms of Service of all legitimate service providers (websites, apps, Internet or cell companies). Regardless of whether your child can identify who is har- assing them, contact the relevant provider. An updated list of contact information can be found here: cyberbully- ing.us/report.

7. Contact the police when physical threats are involved. Most states have laws related to online threats, and law enforcement can assist in these cases either informally or formally. If your local de- partment is not helpful, contact county or state law en- forcement officials, as they often have more resources and expertise in technology-related offenses.

8. If the bullying is based on race, sex, or disability, contact the Office of Civil Rights. The U.S. Department of Education takes these cases very seriously if children are limited in their ability to learn and thrive at school because of discrimination.

9. If necessary, seek counseling. Your child may benefit from speaking with a mental health professional. Children may prefer to dialogue with a third party who may be perceived as more objective.

10. Implement measures to prevent it from reoccurring. If your child is being bulliedthrough social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.), set up privacy controls within each platform to block the bully from contacting them, and file a report (see #6). Also encourage them to keep talking to you be- fore small issues flare up into major situations.

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