Social Networking
Sites and Safety
A Guide
For School Administrators
|
Sgt Corey F MacDonald Esq.
Portsmouth
NH
Police Dept
Prosecuting Attorney for City of Portsmouth
|
Table of Contents
1.
Introduction to the attractions to Social Networking
§
“What
is the draw for youth to MySpace and other similar sites?
§
A false
perception of anonymity
§
A chance
to portray an image
§
Who am I?
§
A chance
to meet like-minded people
§
Sports,
music, hobbies, cliques, trends, etc.
§
Little to
no supervision
§
The
perception that parents, teachers and law enforcement are in the dark on
Myspace and other social
networking sites.
§
Teen
Image
§
Young
adults can project either their real image or the image of who they wish
they were.
§
The shy
student in the corner can now communicate her hopes, dreams and wishes
without saying a word.
§
Never
before has there been a tool where students can get so much information
across in so quick a fashion.
§
What is
MySpace
§
An online
social network used by more then 180 million users, members must be 14
to join.
§
Free to
join, no credit cards, or other verifying tools are used.
§
MySpace
started 3 years ago by Tom Anderson, and it makes money through Ads
§
The new
“Hour long phone call”
§
Review
of Recent News
2.
Why
Educators should care:
§
A false
perception of anonymity
§
Bullying:
§
Students
target other students on-line
§
Students
take shelter behind the idea that no one is checking their activity.
§
Added
tools, i.e. picture modification.
§
A wider
audience, and a longer drawn out effect.
§
Case
study: “I hate Joe Smith.”
§
Admissions
and evidence of Youth at Risk
§
On line
predators - 1 in 5 kids are approached by a predator (National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children) – talk to your students
§
No
expectation of privacy, Good information is available for you access.
§
A chance
to be proactive in getting to know your students challenges.
§
Ability to
“size up” students
§
Topics to
help establish rapport
3.
Overview of: MySpace, Facebook, Gizmo ..
§
Child
Abduction Murder Study discusses the focus of Stranger/Danger program is
for Kindergarten to 3rd graders
§
Homicide
rates highest children 0-4 and 13-17 Years of Age
4.
Working with a Law Enforcement: A Resource For You
§
Preserving
a page
§
Printing a
page
§
Search
warrants
§
Subpoena's
§
IP Logs
§
Using this
information
5.
Emergency Disclosures
§
MySpace is
permitted to disclose info. Must believe in good faith that an emergency
exists
6.
Best
Practices
§
Where to
put your computer
§
Trust Building:
Password Privacy
§
School
Policy – discuss these types of sties in the classroom
§
Who do you
add as a friend?
§
Who don’t
you add as a friend?
§
Is it safe
to meet up?
§
Report
Bullying / harassment
7.
Communication