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Avoiding Dangerous Situations Online (For Parents & Educators)

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Key Takeaways:

  • No one is immune to social media risks, including coming into contact with dangerous people
  • Predators are very savvy about connecting  with students online, including pretending to be a student themselves and exploiting students’ need to feel understood and special
  • It’s imperative that students understand what kinds of information is or is not safe to disclose
  • Students need to have a plan for handling strangers and dangerous situations they encounter online, including taking screenshots and other documentation and talking with a parent or other trusted adult

Dialogue Starters:

Parents of Elementary School Students (to ask students)

Avoiding Strangers Online

  • What would you do if someone you don’t know started asking you personal questions during a video game or anywhere else online? 

Parents of Middle School Students (to ask students)

Protecting Privacy

  • What kind of information is too private or dangerous to reveal to a person you don’t know online?

Parents of High School Students (to ask students)

Red Flags

  • What would be some red flags that a person you’re interacting with online might be lying about their identity? 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

Conclusion

Students are digital natives and between screen time at home and screen time at school, they often spend quite a bit of time online. Protecting kids online is more important today than ever before with the risk of online predators, online drug sales, and other dangerous situations that kids have the potential to be exposed to. The most important defense against these online risks is having an ongoing dialogue with students so they understand what red flags they should be looking out for and know what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation.

Avoiding Dangerous Situations Online (For Parents & Educators)

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Key Takeaways:

  • No one is immune to social media risks, including coming into contact with dangerous people
  • Predators are very savvy about connecting  with students online, including pretending to be a student themselves and exploiting students’ need to feel understood and special
  • It’s imperative that students understand what kinds of information is or is not safe to disclose
  • Students need to have a plan for handling strangers and dangerous situations they encounter online, including taking screenshots and other documentation and talking with a parent or other trusted adult

Dialogue Starters:

Parents of Elementary School Students (to ask students)

Avoiding Strangers Online

  • What would you do if someone you don’t know started asking you personal questions during a video game or anywhere else online? 

Parents of Middle School Students (to ask students)

Protecting Privacy

  • What kind of information is too private or dangerous to reveal to a person you don’t know online?

Parents of High School Students (to ask students)

Red Flags

  • What would be some red flags that a person you’re interacting with online might be lying about their identity? 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

Conclusion

Students are digital natives and between screen time at home and screen time at school, they often spend quite a bit of time online. Protecting kids online is more important today than ever before with the risk of online predators, online drug sales, and other dangerous situations that kids have the potential to be exposed to. The most important defense against these online risks is having an ongoing dialogue with students so they understand what red flags they should be looking out for and know what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation.