Transcript Technology Awareness: Today’s technology and its impact on

Technology Awareness:
Today’s technology and its
impact on youth suicide
Heather Segraves Jenkins, M.Ed.
Administrator for Student Leadership and
Involvement
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Straight from the headlines
•In 2003, Ryan Patrick (13) from
Vermont, hung himself after being
bullied online.
•In 2006, Megan Meier (13) from
Missouri, killed herself after the mother
of a former friend harassed her using a
phony profile on MySpace.
Straight from the headlines
•In 2009, Jesse Logan (18) killed herself
after nude pictures she sent to a
boyfriend were emailed to others.
•In January 2010, Phoebe Prince from
Massachusetts, hung herself after
receiving taunting text messages and
being harassed on Facebook.
Benefits of Technology for
Kids/Teens
•Connection to family/friends
•Aids in learning
•Increases accessibility for some
•Real-world skills
Risks for Kids/Teens
•Online predators
•Identity theft
•Cyberbullying
•Immediate access to “sensitive
information”
•“Sexting”
Suicide “Resources” on the Internet
•Researchers from the Universities of
Bristol, Oxford, and Manchester found
that nearly half of websites showing up
in queries of the four top search engines
gave “how to” advice on taking one’s
own life
Source: http://news.smh.com.au/technology/suicide-internet-search-turns-up-how-to-advice-study-20080411-25li.html
Suicide “Resources” on the Internet
•Only 13% of those pages focused on
suicide prevention
•1/5 of sites were dedicated suicide
sites- ½ of these encouraged suicide
•The three most frequently occurring
websites in all search engines were prosuicide
Source: http://news.smh.com.au/technology/suicide-internet-search-turns-up-how-to-advice-study-20080411-25li.html
Suicide “Resources” on the Internet
Social Networking Sites
•Facebook
•MySpace
•Twitter
•Second Life
Facebook
•Social site
•Can create a profile that is public or
private
•Can post photos, videos, links
•Accumulate “friends”
•Can join “groups” or become “fans”
•Can participate in social games
•Can “invite” people to events or to join
groups
Let’s Take a Look
http://www.facebook.com
This is what your child could see…
A
Facebook
search for
“suicide”
This is what your child could see…
One of the
pages
from the
search
This is what your child could see…
A site to commit
virtual suicide
This is what your child could see…
Found searching
“I hate myself”
This is what your child could see…
What if you don’t
“rate” high?
Memorial Pages
Could this be
attractive to
some children?
Facebook’s Policy
We do our best to keep Facebook safe, but we
cannot guarantee it. We need your help to do that,
which includes the following commitments…
You will not bully, intimidate, or harass any user.
You will not post content that: is hateful,
threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or
contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.
Twitter
•Social site
•Can create a profile that is public or
private
•Communicate via 140 character
messages
•Can post links to articles, photos, etc.
•Accumulate “friends”
•Can join “groups”
Let’s Take a Look
http://www.twitter.com
Twitter’s Policy
*Violence and Threats: You may not
publish or post direct, specific threats
of violence against others
What about teasing?
What about starting rumors?
Second Life
•Social site
•Create an avatar to represent you
•Visit different “islands” based on
subject matter
•Has its own
currency
•Teen version
of Second Life
You Tube
•Video exchange website
•Upload and download videos on any
subject matter
•Views for each video are tracked
•Can search videos
http://www.youtube.com
You Tube- Search for “Suicide”
•Suicide Jump from House
1,553,125 views
•How to Commit Suicide
981,048 views
•Teen Suicide Letter
275,830 views
•19 Year Old Commits Suicide Live
996,987
•How to Commit Suicide the Cool Way
118,688
As of 5/4/10
Cell Phones, iPhones, etc.
Did you know?
•Today’s cell phones have the capability
to let you send text messages, video
messages, and picture messages.
•You can surf the web on a cell phone
and even the iPod Touch.
Cell Phones, iPhones, etc.
Did you know?
•You can access Facebook, MySpace,
Twitter, and YouTube on applications
that are downloaded to your phone.
•You can use Facebook and Twitter via
your phone STRICTLY through text
messaging.
Cell Phones, iPhones, etc.
Did you know?
•“Sexting” is a term used to describe
sending explicit photos or text messages
over the phone.
•The courts are now dealing with issues
of whether or not children who pass on
explicit photos of other children can be
convicted of a sex crime.
So What Do We Do?
•Technology is NOT going away.
•To quote G.I. Joe- “Knowing is Half the Battle”
•Give clear, simple, easy-to-read house rules.
•Look into safeguarding programs/options your
online service provider might offer.
•Talk to your children about what’s going on
online.
So What Do We Do?
•Talk to your children about not revealing personal
information.
•Talk to your children about telling a trusted adult
about inappropriate messages on the phone,
computer, etc. It’s important to save the messages
and contact local law enforcement.
•Keep the computer in a family room or another
open area of your house.
So What Do We Do?
•Know who your children are exchanging emails
with or who they are talking to online and on the
phone.
•Check your phone bill to see who your child is
talking and texting.
•Look for the warning signs of depression and
suicide and SEEK HELP for your child.
Adapted from www.netsmartz.org/safety/safetytips.htm
Other Resources
•Department of Educationwww.ed.gov/technology/safety.html
•www.safekids.com
•www.safeteens.com
•www.cybersmart.org