Tattling vs Telling post thumbnail

Tattling vs Telling

As we work with increasingly younger kids to educate them about the responsible use of technology, we find it extremely important to discuss how they should respond to being cyberbullied. Central to this conversation is covering the difference between “tattling” and “telling.” Perhaps you are extremely familiar with this distinction – but if not, read […]

Additional Thoughts on Sexting Advice for Teens post thumbnail

Additional Thoughts on Sexting Advice for Teens

Thanks to all for their comments on my recent blog about how teens should respond when they receive a “sext.” Here are some of my follow-up thoughts, based on comments and emails received, as well as an email exchange among members of the Youth Risk Online Google Group which includes some of the brightest “teens […]

You Received a “Sext,” Now What? Advice for Teens post thumbnail

You Received a “Sext,” Now What? Advice for Teens

If you are a teen and receive a sexually-explicit image of a classmate via your cell phone (or email, or instant message, or via a Nintendo Dsi, or any other type of electronic communication), what should you do? This can be a challenging situation, to say the least. We know that anywhere from 10-30% (or […]

When Can Educators Search Student Cell Phones? post thumbnail

When Can Educators Search Student Cell Phones?

Do students have an expectation of privacy on their cell phones while at school? The short answer to this is a qualified yes. Whether educators have the authority to search the contents of student cell phones depends on a lot of factors. The key issue in this analysis (that we have raised before on this […]

Bullying and Cyberbullying Pledges in the School and Community post thumbnail

Bullying and Cyberbullying Pledges in the School and Community

I’ve been seeing a lot of “cyberbullying pledges” surfacing in recent months. Obviously, the intention is good – to enlist and rally the support of youth who belong to a school or another organization to end (or at least reduce) the problem of peer harassment. I think that it is important for us to think […]

Considerations When Implementing Sexting Policies in Schools post thumbnail

Considerations When Implementing Sexting Policies in Schools

In a recent post, I fleshed out what we believe should be in a comprehensive sexting policy. I wanted to also mention that it is very important that schools take note and knowledge of students’ due process rights, and ensure that their response action plans do not overstep those personal rights. Here’s what I suggest […]

Most Cyberbullying Cases Aren’t Criminal post thumbnail

Most Cyberbullying Cases Aren’t Criminal

Many of you perhaps already saw the brief comments I wrote for the New York Times Opinion Page in the aftermath of Tyler Clementi’s tragic suicide.  They asked me to comment on the extent to which this incident was typical of many cyberbullying cases that end in suicide and whether or not criminal action against […]

Most Cyberbullying Cases Aren’t Criminal post thumbnail

Most Cyberbullying Cases Aren’t Criminal

Many of you perhaps already saw the brief comments I wrote for the New York Times Opinion Page in the aftermath of Tyler Clementi’s tragic suicide.  They asked me to comment on the extent to which this incident was typical of many cyberbullying cases that end in suicide and whether or not criminal action against […]

Cyberbullying Laws and School Policy: A Blessing or Curse? post thumbnail

Cyberbullying Laws and School Policy: A Blessing or Curse?

Many schools are now in a difficult position of having to respond to a mandate to have a cyberbullying policy, without much guidance from the state about the circumstances under which they can (or must) respond.  When folks ask me if I think there needs to be a “cyberbullying law” I basically respond by saying […]

A Student Guide to Personal Publishing post thumbnail

A Student Guide to Personal Publishing

Sameer and I recently wrote a concise “Student Guide to Personal Publishing” which was published by Jostens (the class ring and yearbook company).  They contacted us looking for information they could provide to students, parents, and educators about being safe and responsible when publishing material both online and off.  While we regularly discuss these issues […]