Online Safety 3.0: From Fear to Empowerment

Larry MagidCo-director

ConnectSafely.orgFounder

SafeKids.com

Revised March 21, 2012

Slides are available atSafeKids.com/cue2012

More at OS3.ConnectSafely.org

I wrote this in 1994. Too bad people are still

following this old advice

Evolution of online safety

Children as victims:1.0 (most of the 90’s) Pornography & predators:

Protecting children from bad adults. Children as consumers of information, not as creators and based on assumptions of risk, not actual research

2.0 (around 2007) Protecting children from peers. Recognizing that kids can create content harm other kids and themselves. Cyberbullying & posting inappropriate or dangerous content

From Guttenberg to broadcasting, the masses were just consumers of media

And pretty much the same model online in the 80’s and 90’s

Me, in 1981 on my Apple II with an acoustic MODEM

CompuServe 1981

Mosaic browser, 1993

But, in case anyone didn’t notice, things have changed

Media is now:• One to one• One to many• Many to many

We are all publishers and youth are leading the charge

Which calls for a new approach to “online safety”

• Research-based, not fear-based, so relevant• Flexible, layered – not one-size-fits-all• Respectful of youth – stakeholders in positive

outcomes, not just potential victims• Positive: Not just safety from (bad outcomes)

but safety for good outcomes• Comprehensive = Incorporates safety, security,

citizenship, and research/information literacy

From Online Safety 3.0 (os3.connectsafely.org)

• View youth as participants and stakeholders in positive Internet use rather than potential victims, and empower them to protect themselves & each other

• Promote good citizenship

• Teach media literacy & critical thinking

• Understand the value of informal learning

• Be accurate and honest about risks

• Encourage industry to engage in best practices, including promoting good citizenship in the communities they run

Elements of Online Safety 3.0

os3.ConnectSafely.org

The ‘net’ is mostly like the physical world, but …

• What’s posted can be permanent

• Material can be copied and pasted• Lots of people can see it• You don’t know for sure who’s seeing it

AND

• Disinhibition: Lack of visual cues reducesempathy

Source: adapted from danah boyd: Taken out of Context, 2008

We need to understand risk, not exaggerate it

• Of course there are risks online, but they are not anything new or special

• Pay attention to the research• Include children in the discussion• Understand the limits of regulation and

the benefits of education

Fear works only if it’s credible & actionable

• “How people respond to fear appeals depends on their assessment of the threat and their perceived efficacy.

• When assessing threat, the audience considers severity, or the seriousness of it, as well as their susceptibility, or the likelihood that it will happen to them.”

Based on research from Kim White @ Michigan Statehttp://www.thcu.ca/infoandresources/publications/fear%20appeals%20-%20web%20version.pdf

Boomerang effectIf the perception of threat exceeds perception of efficacy…• They will avoid the message• Deny they are at risk• Mock the message or become angry at the source or

issue (and ignore it). • They may even increase their unhealthy behaviors

(boomerang effect).

Fear can paralyze

And lead to irrational decisions

Predator Panic of 2004-2006

Was based on faulty interpretation of accurate data“1 out of five youth received an unwanted “sexual

solicitation”

“Juvenoia”

“There are features of the Internet that increase risk for young people above what they already encounter or what they encounter in other environments, or what they used to encounter.” BUT …

Source: David Finkelhor: The Internet, Youth Safety and the Problem of “Juvenoia.” http://bit.ly/AxCVVD

Things are getting better, not worse

• Sexual abuse of children down by 61% from 1992 to 2008• Teen pregnancies (15-17) down 43% 1991-2007• Teen suicides down 38% 1990-2007• % of kids feeling sad down 17%• Modest increase in math & writing proficiency• High school drop-out rate down 33% 1995-2008• Crimes committed by juveniles down 33% 1996-2008

Source: David Finkelhor: The Internet, Youth Safety and the Problem of “Juvenoia.” http://bit.ly/AxCVVD

Moving right alongThe Internet Safety Technical Task Force found that:

“Bullying and harassment, most often by peers, are the most salient threats that minors face, both online and offline.”

Which naturally leads to ….

Cyberbullying Panic!

It’s a problem, not an epidemic

Source: Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Networks : Pew Internet & American Life, November, 2011

Sexting Panic

A 2008 survey found that 20% of teens had sent or posted “nude or semi-nude images of themselves”

Which led to stories like this:

Source: Crimes Against Children Research Center, Dec , 2011

• 1.3% sent an image where they showed breasts, genitals or someone’s bottom

• 2.5% sent an image where they were nude or partially nude

But a 2011 study found

Should we eliminate all risks?

Why do we allow sports, sharp

pencils & “dangerous” books in school, but ban

social media?

Fences have their place but …

To keep kids safe around all water, we teach kids to swim

Ultimately, the best filter runs between the child’s ears, not on a

device

Protection that lasts a lifetime & works on any “device” Training wheels for young kids

How you treat others affects your risk

* EU Kids Online +Internet Safety Technology Taskforce

“Youth who engage in online aggressive behavior by making rude or nasty comments or frequently embarrassing others are more than twice as likely to report online interpersonal victimization.” +

“Among those who do not bully others, being bullied is relatively rare 8% offline only, and 4% online”*

Approaches to empowerment• Encourage student-led initiatives• Work on “cultural change” initiatives like:

• Pink Shirt Day• Friend Zone

• Poll your students about bullying and attitudes• Celebrate “random acts of kindness”• Celebrate diversity & bravery

Based on: Changing the Culture: Ideas for Student Action by Anne Collier, Mia Doces and Lisa Jones

A few tips for educators• Create a bullying prevention team• Involve parents and community• Integrate “reflection” into discipline program• Support for targets (“it’s not your fault”)• Connect students with positive adults

• Increases resiliency, reinforces positive behavior

• Positive staff behavior: Don’t let students see staff acting as bullies

Source: Empowering Bystanders in Bullying Prevention, by Stan Davis

Bullying prevention programs• A structured curriculum that provides youth with materials

over at least several sessions. • One-shot assemblies or pulling a few bits and pieces from

a program is not going to make a difference. • Teach youth new skills. These should be spelled out in the

program • Activities must let youth practice these new skills in active

ways• Take a whole school or community approach to prevention.

Offer training for school staff, involvement of parents, and assistance to help the school improve its response to bullying concerns and reports

Source: Implementing Bullying Prevention Programs in Schools: A How-To Guide. By Lisa Jones, Mia Doces, Susan Swearer, and Anne Collier (cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/7491)

Social norms approach• People emulate how they think their peers

behave• If people think their friends don’t smoke,

they’re less likely to smoke.• Same is true with over-eating, excessive alcohol

use and other negative behaviors, including bullying*

*Assessing Bullying in New Jersey Secondary Schools: Applying the Social Norms Model to Adolescent Violence: Craig, Perkins 2008

Example of positive norming

Source: Assessing Bullying in New Jersey Secondary Schools: Applying the Social Norms Model to Adolescent Violence: Craig, Perkins 2008

Resources

• Born This Way Foundation (BornThisWay.org)• Center for Safe & Responsible Internet Use (CSRIU.org)• Committee for Children (http://www.cfchildren.org/)• ConnectSafely.org• Cyberbullying Research Center (cyberbullying.us)• GenYes.org• Kinder & Gentler World Working Papers (

cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/7491)• Olweaus Bullying Prevention Program (Olweus.org)• RulerApproach.org: Social & emotional learning• StopBullying.gov

Thank you!

Larry Magidlarry@connectsafely.org

Slides are available atSafeKids.com/cue2012

More at OS3.ConnectSafely.org