Social Media Strategy
Social media and cyber safety should be a paramount goal for all people. There always exists the possibility of cybercrimes which include identity theft, fraud, extortions, and stalking. In a world that allows access to untold amounts of information at the touch of a finger, there are also new fields for criminals to exploit that wide world of information. Cyber criminals and other miscreants can use the ability to create false images of themselves and seek money, meetings, companionship and favors from unsuspecting people.
Crime statistics show that the most vulnerable population of victimization of cybercrimes are the younger and older populations although no age group is truly exempt. Professions across the board have also fallen victim to cyber manipulation or extortion.
On a blogging site for education there were some suggestions for teachers about their safety on social media. Officers may also benefit from this and share this with their colleagues.
- Always use a professional profile picture since this picture is normally searchable as public domain.
- Adjust your privacy settings so that only friends and followers can see what is on your wall or posts. Adjust your privacy settings to conceal your date of birth, email or other personal data. Also realize when you join a social media group your information will normally be visible to all within that group.
- Only “like” posts on other persons which are professional or non-controversial. Do not endorse unprofessional or inappropriate posts that show up on your newsfeed.
- Restrict who can post on your page and be careful if you are “tagged” in other pages which you do not desire to be associated with.
- Restrict your friend or follower list to people you know and trust.
- Beware of posting pictures of students or school settings. Refer to the district policy. If you receive an award or something noteworthy take care that the post is within policy.
- Report concerns of inappropriate situations, hacking, phishing or misinformation to the account domain.
Advice for teens
Students should be encouraged to enjoy their social media for the purpose it was intended. There is nothing wrong with sharing their experience and opinions (within reason) with other people in the appropriate settings. It is an opportunity to make new friends who they could not personally meet. However, all such meetings should be approached with caution. Viewing other people’s experiences or performances online is very entertaining. Keeping up with current events can enhance their wellbeing in the world.
- Teens should be aware of privacy settings and use them.
- Students should avoid posting pictures which identify their location, such as wearing school shirts, in front of their home, in front of signs for school or work.
- Students should not share passwords with anyone but their parents.
- Students should be aware that all who post things are not who they appear to be.
- Students should avoid private messages with people they do not know personally and if they do avoid giving them too much information about themselves.
- Students should be careful about sending inappropriate photos or sexually explicit photos to anyone. There is no control of how the receiver will use them.
- Students should use extreme caution about meeting people they meet online.
- Students should be aware that attempts to have them run away or meet someone for illicit purposes will most likely be a for a human trafficking.
- Students should not download programs or applications without parental permission.
- Students should be aware that even from people they know there can be inappropriate behavior.
- Students should be aware to refuse and report any attempts to photograph or pose for photographs that may have sexual or inappropriate settings.
- Students shouldn’t engage/allow engagement of online bullying or shaming of anyone..
As an Officer, you may be asked to give advice to parents on the best ways to protect their child from online situations. Most likely the best advice to parents is to be concerned about your child’s internet habits. Set good examples for them to follow and put down their phones when talking with their child. Parents should become familiar with parental controls and use them as age appropriate. Parents may wish to do any or all of the following:
- Have open and frank discussions with children about their online activities.
- Parents may elect to establish “electronic free activities” such as meals, family events, or outings.
- Parents may wish to establish rules of online activity. Parents may wish to use parental controls available on computers or cellphones.
- Parents of younger children will decide at what point they will be allowed to have cell phones or access to computers with communications capability.
- Parents may want to evaluate their option to use electronic devices as “babysitters” or using such devices to curb annoying behavior in public places.
Electronic safety is a joint effort and accomplishment of all students, parents, school officials and the School Security Personnel.