Students and Responsible Phone Use
Schools across the county are starting up for the year and that brings both excitement and challenges to area students. Regardless of whether your child has been carrying a phone for a few years or are new to having the internet at their fingertips, this is a great time to have a conversation with them, even if you've done so in the past, about the risks that come with the responsibility.
Just as many of us receive tons of calls on a regular basis from would-be scammers, there are individuals and groups of individuals who tirelessly try to groom and entice your child into sending inappropriate pictures through social media apps.
It's not just pedophiles posing as similar aged children who present a threat, though. That's why it's important for your child to understand anything they send through their phone, whether by text, messenger or an app they think makes the photo immediately disappear, doesn't necessarily go away.
It's not uncommon for area law enforcement to be asked - more frequently than anyone would probably realize - to investigate instances where a juvenile sends an inappropriate picture to someone they like or are dating, only to later find out the person has saved the picture and sent it out to their classmates.
These situations not only result in embarrassment for the person whose pictures are being shared, but can also result in serious legal consequences for those who share and / or possess the photos.
Also along the lines of responsible phone use is the topic of cyber bullying. Young people, and even some adults, mistakenly believe that they can create fake social media accounts and utilize them to bully others. Again, it's important for them to remember anything on their phone, which is essentially a mobile computer, generally stays on the device even if the operator believes it's been deleted.
An investigation into crimes involving phones often results in law enforcement having to obtain a court order to search the contents of the device and can also lead to criminal prosecution.
Knowing the right method to help protect your kids can be tricky. Some parents look through their child's phone, some feel they are demonstrating trust in their child by not going through their phone and yet others utilize an app that requires the parent to pre-authorize any new website visited by their child.
Just as it's not uncommon for law enforcement to be asked to investigate instances where a juvenile sends inappropriate pictures, comments or threats to someone on social media, it's similarly not uncommon for the parents of the student doing so to be shocked to learn what their child is doing online.
In an effort to help our area students have a safe and enjoyable school year, I again encourage parents to consider having a conversation with their children - even if they believe their child would never do anything inappropriate - about responsible phone use and general kindness towards others.
Stay safe and God Bless,
Sheriff David M. Groves