The internet may bring the world to our fingertips, but that means both the good and the bad aspects of what you can find online. Along with easy access to research materials, online museums, connections via social media, and purpose built for education apps and web tools comes inappropriate content, peer bullying, and online predators. So how to make sure the content is appropriate and your students are safe when they’re using the web for appropriate and necessary work and leisure? The handy infographic below takes a look at what students are doing online and some of the problems they may run into, along with some recommendations for teachers.
Keeping Students Safe Online
- 95% of teenagers 12-17 are online
- 62% are visiting social networks, while only 15% are doing research/work for school
- 74% access the web on mobile phones
- 52% say they have been a victim of cyberbullying
- Less than 1 in 5 cyberbullying incidents are reported
- 37% of students report being bullied at school
- 50% of 12th grade girls spend at least 10 hours per week texting on their cell phones
- 22% of teens say they have ‘sexted’
- 15% of teens say they have sent nude photos to someone they have never met
What Are Some Issues Resulting From Internet Threats?
- Violence/Harm to self
- Violence/Harm/Abuse/Rape to others
- Nudity/Sexual content (sexting, porn)
- Inappropriate content (skipping school, linking to inappropriate sites, cheating)
- Alcohol/smoking/drug abuse
What Can You Do?
- Help students understand that some information should be private
- Talk to students about cyberbullying
- Educate students about the threat of online predators
- Encourage students to report concerns to authorities
- Implement a safe learning solution that will filter and monitor communications
Dealing With Inappropriate Content
- Do not forward, copy, download, or share the content
- Determine if the person in possession of the content has shared it
- Minimize the number of devices and people involved
- Contact law enforcement if appropriate
- If a document or conversation needs to be saved, do not include images
