IU13 Hosts Keeping Kids Safe on Social Media and the Internet

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IU to host KEEPING KIDS SAFE SYMPOSIUM

March 20, 2018  Two identical sessions: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free. Registration required at iu13.org/safekids

Information from the IU13.org/Safekids website:
Times have changed. Technology has become a monster that many parents and educators are struggling to keep up with. Kids (and adults) of all ages are glued to their mobile devices. Most communication has become digital. So how do we actually know who our kids are interacting with? Are they giving out too much information such as their names, schools, friends, and, more importantly, their location? Predators are lurking around every corner and have become very skilled in the use of social media and mobile applications, such as Snapchat, to reach out and communicate with kids.

Join us on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, for the 2018 Keeping Kids Safe Symposium. This is a Free Cyber Security Forum on Social Media & the Internet, which will be held at the The Conference and Training Center at IU13 (1020 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601).  

Everyone is welcome to attend this event, specifically parents, educators, and community members.

Featured speaker Michele Stuart, from JAG Investigations, Inc., will be addressing five areas of concern:

  • Child victims/human trafficking
  • Cell phones/app security issues
  • Cyberbullying
  • Acronyms/The Children’s Internet Language
  • Basic internet safety

Workshop Topics

This class will cover numerous applications and social media platforms commonly used by kids. It is important to know that apps come and go almost daily. Parents need to stay proactive in trying to keep educated on new apps coming out.

Objectives: Discuss bullying, sexual harassment, predatory behavior, pornography exposure

  • Learn how to set mobile privacy settings
  • Discover the most current apps being used for social media
  • Find out what current apps being used for “secret” communications/sexting
  • Hear how bullying happens and can ruin lives

Potential Risk of Online Predators

  • 71% of teens have online profiles (including Facebook, Friendster, and Xanga), up from 61% from the previous year.
  • 69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from people they do not know and most of them do not tell a trusted adult about it.
  • Teens readily post personal info online. 64% post photos or videos of themselves, while 58% post info about where they live. Females are far more likely than male teens to post personal photos or videos of themselves (70% vs. 58%).
  • One in 10 teens has posted their cell phone number online.
  • Overall, 19% of teens report they have been harassed or bullied online, and the incidence of online harassment is higher (23%) among 16- and 17-year-olds. Girls are more likely to be harassed or bullied than boys (21% vs. 17%).