SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET SAFETY

Officer P. Salmon #59

Concord Police Department

Effects of Too Much Screen Time

• Sleep Disruption
• Bright lights can reduce the production of melatonin
• Teens stay up later interacting with their devices
• Poor sleep quality, weakened immune system
• Mental Health Concerns
• Studies have shown a link between high levels of screen time and increased symptoms of depression
• Some teens use screens to deal with stress and feel anxious without their devices (dependency)
• Exposure to prolonged bullying
• Physical Health Issues
• Prolonged screen time can lead to eye strain and dry eyes
• The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study indicated that kids who use screens more than seven hours a day had a thinner cortex, which is crucial for processing information.

Cyberbullying

• The Cyberbullying Research Center has been surveying teens about their cyberbullying experiences since 2016.
• In 2023 they conducted a study that found 26.5% of students said they had experienced cyberbullying within the past 30 days. (23.2% in 2021, 17.2% in 2019, and 16.7% in 2016)
• Tons of studies have found that those who experience cyberbullying are more likely to suffer from depression and report suicidal thoughts and attempts.
• Five Forms of Cyberbullying:
• Someone posted mean or hurtful comments about me online 
• Someone spread rumors about me online 
• Someone embarrassed or humiliated me online 
• Someone intentionally excluded me from a group text or group chat 
• Someone repeatedly contacted me via text or online after I told them to stop 

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• Recent reports have seen kids using AI to generate fake, inappropriate pictures of their classmates and then spread them around. 

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Average Time Teens Spend on Social Media (2023)

• # of people surveyed: 1,567
• Age group: 13-19
• YouTube and TikTok are the two most popular
• *THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE VIDEO GAMES*

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Snapchat

• Staying Safe on Snapchat :
• Disappearing Messages: Snapchat’s feature of disappearing messages can make it easier for predators to groom and exploit children without leaving a trace. The fact that messages, photos, and videos disappear after a short period of time can encourage risky behavior – and make it harder for parents or authorities to detect and intervene in cases of abuse.
• Sexting: Snapchat has been associated with an increase in sexting among young people. According to a study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, 22% of teens surveyed reported sending nude or semi-nude photos or videos of themselves via Snapchat.
• Strangers: The app’s “Quick Add” feature, which suggests friends of friends, can expose children to strangers. There have been reports of predators using this feature to add and communicate with minors.
• Geolocation: Snapchat’s Snap Map feature can reveal a user’s precise location to friends or even strangers if the user has not set the appropriate privacy settings. This can put children at risk of physical harm, stalking, or cyberbullying.
• Inappropriate Content: Snapchat has been known to feature explicit content, and users can easily access inappropriate content through Snap Map or by following certain accounts. This can expose children to harmful or explicit material.

Gaming

• Look at the handout “THE GOODS ON GAMING”
• What is Discord?
• Discord is an internet platform on which users post text and images, send direct messages, and take part in video and voice calls. The platform can be accessed through a browser or via an app.
• Users can set up private servers to host conversations and group video calls
• Gamers use voice channels on Discord to communicate while playing
• Common concerns using Discord:
• Cyberbullying, harassment, exposure to explicit content,
• Stay Safe while using Discord:
• Change who can send you direct messages
• Change who can add you as a friend
• Automatically delete messages that contain explicit content
• Decide whether the app can collect your data
• Block and report users

Telegram

• What is Telegram?
• App that you can message, call and video chat with other Telegram users, create group chats, and join channels based on an interest or subject.
• Telegram offers end-to-end encryption, which means that messages can’t be accessed by anyone except the participating users. Even Telegram as a company can’t view them.
• Issues with Telegram:
• They do not store or retain any messages, photographs, or videos that are sent.
• Due to this, they law enforcement cannot obtain information if messages/photos/videos or deleted through SW or Subpoenas
• They do not offer Parental Controls
• They have self destructive messaging, similar to Snapchat
• Location settings: allows anyone in your area to message you

Top 10 Tips for Protecting Kids from Online Sexual Predators

1. Know passwords

2. Monitor online activity – use an app

-Bark ($14/mo): app scans for dangers like predators, suicidal ideation, violence, and more. Also tracks location, blocks apps+ websites. Works on different electronics

-Screentime (Apple)/ Google Family Link (Android)

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

6HOOLnF1N_4&t=16s

3. Sign a contract

4. No devices in bedrooms

5. Never friend anyone you don’t know in real life

6. Create an open dialogue

-Encourage open communication with your child and online safety, body boundaries, and consent from a young age.

7. Pause before you post

- 39% of teens report that they have posted something online that they later regretted.

8. Charge devices in common areas

9. If games don’t have parental controls, you can’t play

10. Do a weekly device check – it’s smart, not snooping

NUDES

• "Sexually explicit conduct" means human masturbation, the touching of the actor's or other person's sexual organs in the context of a sexual relationship, sexual intercourse actual or simulated, normal or perverted, whether alone or between members of the same or opposite sex or between humans and animals, or any lewd exhibitions of the buttocks, genitals, flagellation, bondage, or torture. Sexual intercourse is simulated when it depicts explicit sexual intercourse that gives the appearance of the consummation of sexual intercourse, normal or perverted.
• What to do if your child informs you that they sent a nude photograph of themselves?
• Take their phone/tablet/computer and notify local law enforcement ASAP
• LE will come and speak with your child about who?, what?, when?, where?, how?
• LE will ask for consent to search the cell phone and will MOST LIKELY seize the cell phone
• LE will then go to the other involved party and do the same
• LE will bring it to CPD HQ where computer crimes will dump the phone
• LE will them speak to the children about internet safety and explain they cannot share nude photos of themselves

Resources

• https://www.statista.com/statistics/1451257/us-teens-hours-spent-social-networks-per-day/#:~:text=U.S.%20teens%20average%20time%20spent%20on%20social%20networks%20per%20day%202023&text=According%20to%20a%202023%20survey,to%204.4%20hours%20for%20boys.
• https://cosmotogether.com/blogs/news/average-screen-time-for-teenagers-in-2024?srsltid=AfmBOoobX3Ozh2RPJRrqyIZtb0aYj7Q3yl8upvF8YIgko6CXxKwn9W6w
• https://childrescuecoalition.org/education/
• https://www.bark.us/learn/the-app/
• https://nordvpn.com/blog/is-discord-safe/
• https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/title-lxii/chapter-649-a/section-649-a-2/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

psalmon@concordpolice.com

603.225.0800 x6008