Online Threats to Students

 • Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices such as cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, text, and mobile applications (apps) or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else, causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

Most common places where cyberbullying occurs:

Social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter 

• SMS (Short Message Service), also known as Text Message, sent through devices

• Instant Message (via devices, email provider services, apps, and social media messaging features) 

• Email  

• Inappropriate Content. Adolescents and children can unintentionally come into contact with inappropriate content, such as sexually explicit material. Unsolicited obscene materials can also be received electronically.

Ransomware can also include an element of extortion, in which the perpetrator threatens to publish data or  images if the victim does not do what the perpetrator wants.

• Oversharing. Personal information that is sometimes shared by students includes their name, age, address, phone number, and Social Security number.

 • Online Predation. Online predators put victims through “the grooming process,” a series of steps by which they build the victim’s trust by sympathizing with him or her or feigning common interests, after which they proceed to set up a face-to-face meeting with the victim and then move forward with manipulation.

Schools and school districts can implement several cyber policies and procedures to help keep their students safe from online threats. These include the creation and implementation of responsible use policies to ensure that students are aware of appropriate online behavior, the use of filtering and blocking software at school to prevent access to inappropriate content, and education about the risks of being online and how to stay safe.

Responsible Use Policies (RUPs) Schools and school districts are encouraged to develop an RUP, also known as an Acceptable Use Policy, before students are allowed to access the Internet at school via a school device or the student’s personal device. An RUP is an agreement written in simple and accessible language among parents or guardians, students, and school personnel that outlines the terms of responsible use and consequences for misuse. Families are usually expected to acknowledge that their child(ren) will follow basic guidelines, and students agree to the standards laid out in the policy. RUPs can cover issues such as expectations for online behavior, what resources can be accessed, academic integrity when using technology, and how student data and information will be used by the school.

Filtering and Blocking Content One of the first ways to prevent students from accessing inappropriate content—either deliberately or accidentally—is for schools and school districts to use filtering and blocking software, which allows users access to only preapproved Websites. Teachers and staff can help determine what sites should be blocked. Regular audits can also be conducted to ensure that appropriate online educational material can still be accessed and to determine if blocked sites should remain blocked.  

Digital Citizenship Schools and school districts are also encouraged to teach students what it means to be a responsible digital citizen as part of a broader strategy of promoting a positive school climate. A digital citizenship curriculum can include topics such as privacy and security, relationships and communication, cyberbullying and digital drama, digital footprints and reputation, self-image and identity, information literacy, and creative credit and copyright. As an example of a digital citizenship curriculum used by the K-12 school community, the Jurupa Unified School District educates students in Internet safety, privacy, relationships, cyberbullying, self-image, copyright rules, and other topics.vi Lessons are age appropriate, and discussions change depending on the latest digital trends and include topics such as the import.

Education and Training Students, teachers, staff, and families can also be educated on online safety.

1. Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign (https://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect

2. OnGuard Online program (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0038- onguardonline; Federal Trade Commission) provides instructional material for elementary and middle school teachers, high school teachers, and community educators and resources for parents on how to talk to their children about being online. 

During and After an Incident Students also need to be aware of what to do if they are a victim of an online threat. They can be encouraged to report threats to a teacher, a school counselor, another trusted adult, and the online service provider, if appropriate. S

When developing activities to address cyber threats before, during, and after an event occurs, a planning team can progress through the six steps as follows. 

Step 1: Form a collaborative planning team. 

• Step 2: Understand the situation. 

• Step 3: Determine goals and objectives. 

• Step 4: Plan development (identify courses of action).

 • Step 5: Plan preparation, review, and approval.

 • Step 6: Plan implementation and maintenance.