Sextortion

It is so important that youth and teens, no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their parents become more aware of the pretexts, tactics, and strategies being used specific to the clear and present threat of online sextortion. As Sun Tzu, a wise and ancient Chinese warrior once stated, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”

It has been our experience that there are two categories of sextortion when it comes to youth and teens:

Read more:

Sextortion - The White Hatter
https://thewhitehatter.ca/sextortion/

Are Youth Sexting Rates Still on the Rise? A Meta-analytic Update

 

This meta-analysis of sexting research (28 studies, 58k youth) found pooled prevalence rates of 19% sending, 35% receiving, and 15% forwarding nudes without consent. Higher than we'd like (but this is our reality). We agree rates have likely plateaued. https://t.co/lYrQm8cAql pic.twitter.com/qpLwiGWOSj

— Sameer Hinduja (@hinduja) August 1, 2022

Bullying and Cyberbullying Severity Linked to Adolescent Suicide

| Jun 10, 2019| 2018,
Brain Health, Infant and Children's Health |

Written by Joyce Smith, Staff Writer. Survey analyses of 2,670 middle and high school students across the United States revealed that students who experienced both bullying at school and cyberbullying were more than 11 times as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who had not been bullied.

Read more:

http://www.naturalhealthresearch.org/bullying-and-cyberbullying-severity-linked-to-adolescent-suicide/

With teen mental health deteriorating over five years, there's a likely culprit

Must read. With teen mental health deteriorating over five years, there's a likely culprit #scchat #edchat https://theconversation.com/with-teen-mental-health-deteriorating-over-five-years-theres-a-likely-culprit-86996

Don't Panic, What Parents Really Need To Know About 'Momo Challenge'

From Andy Robertson
Forbes

As I expand below, evidence of direct harm caused by the game is yet to be found. It is essentially a viral ghost story. Rather than sharing warnings that perpetuate and mythologize the story, a better focus is good positive advice for children, set up technology appropriately and take an interest in their online interactions.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andyrobertson/2019/02/27/dont-panic-what-parents-really-need-to-know-about-momo-challenge

Cyberbullying Research Center Newsletter (September 2018)

Cyberbullying Research Center Back to School - September 2018 Welcome to the Cyberbullying Research Center email newsletter! It's that time of the year again: Back to school! We're here to help you make it a great year. Below is an overview of what we've been up to over the last several months. We look forward to working alongside you in the new academic year and don't hesitate to reach out if we can be of assistance.   - Justin Patchin and Sameer Hinduja Where We've Been Recently It's been a busy travel season for us at the Cyberbullying Research Center. We continue to speak all around the world on these issues that we are so passionate about. Here are some examples of recent international trips: •    Amman, Jordan. Justin did a series of presentations for the US State Department and US Embassy in Jordan. •    Bergen, Norway. Sameer presented a keynote address at a conference for youth-serving organizations. •    Bogota, Columbia. Sameer spoke at the "Women Working for the World" Conference. And next month: •    Auckland, New Zealand. Justin will speak at the "Online Safety on the Edge" conference co-sponsored by New Zealand's Netsafe and Australia's Office of the eSafety Commissioner. (more info) In addition to these, we visited dozens of schools in 2017-2018 to talk with tens of thousands of students, educators, and parents about using technology with integrity. To see if we will be speaking near you sometime soon, or to bring us to your community, click here. New and Updated Resources We recently updated many of our popular (and free!) fact sheets and resources. Check them out on our site under "Resources." We also wrote a brand new Top Ten list for teens called "Standing up to Cyberbullying: Top Ten Tips for Teens" with the goal of helping youth become upstanders when confronted with cyberbullying. You can download it here. New Academic Papers We recently published a few academic papers that you may be interested in: Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2018). Connecting Adolescent Suicide to the Severity of Bullying and Cyberbullying. Online First in the Journal of School Violence. (more info)        Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2018). Deterring teen bullying: Assessing the impact of perceived punishment from police, schools, and parents. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 16(2), 190-207. (more info)      Patchin, J. W. & Hinduja, S. (2017). Digital self-harm among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61, 761-766. (more info)      Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2017). Cultivating youth resilience to prevent bullying and cyberbullying victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 73, 51-62. (more info) If you have trouble accessing any of these on the journal websites, no problem. Just shoot us an email (research@cyberbullying.org) and we'll send you a copy. Student Experiences with Reporting Cyberbullying Most students who are bullied do not report their experiences to adults. This was true 30 years ago when I endured middle school and our research shows it largely continues to this day. I remember being surprised (though maybe I shouldn’t have been) to learn from our first pilot study undertaken 15 years ago that fewer than 15% of those who had been cyberbullied told an adult about it (10% informed a parent while 5% reported it to the school). This made me realize right away that there was a story that needed to be told. And that we needed to do something to improve reporting. Read more on our blog. Empower and Educate, Don’t Just Create Panic Last weekend a Facebook post by the Polk County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office went viral. As of this writing (less than a week later), the post had been shared more than 58,000 times (including by three of my personal Facebook friends, which is how I came to notice it). This wasn’t a post asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted fugitive or advising residents of the latest online phishing scam. Instead, it was a rant about youth and social media. The message, while well-meaning, was misinformed and misguided. Read more on our blog. Most Teenagers Aren’t Asking for Nude Photos A recent New York Times headline caught my attention: “Teenagers, Stop Asking for Nude Photos.” Sage advice, I must admit, but I wondered where this was coming from. In the article, Psychologist Lisa Damour argues that we have long been warning children about the dangers (reputational and potential legal consequences) of sending sexually explicit images, but have largely failed to impress upon them the inappropriateness of asking for such images. “Most schools and many parents already tell teenagers not to send sexualized selfies,” she writes. “But why don’t we also tell adolescents to stop asking for nude photos from one another?” Read more on our blog. Resource of the Month "Teen Sexting: A Brief Guide for Educators and Parents" Newly updated! This research summary reviews what is currently known about teen sexting. Research from across the United States is discussed, along with practical solutions for parents, educators, and other adults to prevent and respond to teen sexting. Download this free resource here. Findings From our Recent Survey We surveyed 5,700 middle and high school students (12-17 year-olds) across the United States in August-October of 2016. Here are a few new quick facts from this study: •    40% said they had a boyfriend/ girlfriend or romantic partner in the last year •    11% said they had engaged in sexual intercourse •    14% reported that they had been the target of dating violence •    11% reported that they had been the target of online dating violence •    10% admitted to participating in dating violence against their partner •    7% said that it occurred using technology We are currently working on an academic paper that will examine digital teen dating violence in more detail. Follow #CRCdata on Twitter for the latest updates! Check out our books! Bullying Today: Bullet Points and Best Practices (more info) Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying (more info) Words Wound: Delete Cyberbullying and Make Kindness Go Viral (more info) School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time (more info) Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives (more info) Copyright © 2018 Cyberbullying Research Center, All rights reserved.

NPR: 13 Reasons Why Not: Michigan Teens Talk Honestly About Suicide

Souce: https://www.npr.org/2017/05/30/530769850/13-reasons-why-not-michigan-teens-talk-honestly-about-suicide
 

Here’s What 7 Mental Health Experts Really Think About ‘13 Reasons Why’

Ahead of the second season, which will be released May 18, the network is working to show audiences that they’ve taken this criticism seriously and will be equipping viewers with adequate resources to help make the show’s impact a productive one.

Learn more:
https://www.self.com/story/13-reasons-why-season-two-mental-health-experts-commentary

B.I.O.N.I.C. “Prevent Bullying by Just Saying H.I.”

Love this program!

Learn more at http://www.bionicteam.org/tag/bully/

How to Spot Victims and Help Them

Source: Human Trafficking: How to Spot Victims and Help Them | Time.com http://time.com/4871378/human-trafficking-signs-report/

Victims and tipsters can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to "BeFree" or 233733. All calls can be made anonymously. Reports can also be submitted through the hotline's online form here. If a victim is in immediate danger, authorities urge people to call 911. Concerned citizens should not confront a suspected trafficker or alert a victim to any suspicions, experts say.

Oxford High School students begin project called ‘13 Reasons Why Not’

In the popular Netflix show “13 Reasons Why,” the main character gives 13 reasons why she wants to die. But, for students at Oxford High School, they are giving 13 reasons to live.

Beginning this week and continuing for 13 days, a recording of a different student will play during the morning announcements. In the recording, played for the entire student body, the teens reveal a problem they’re struggling with. At the end of the recording, instead of blaming someone, the students thank a classmate who has helped them.

Read more: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20170504/oxford-high-school-students-begin-project-called-13-reasons-why-not

It's a series that's received mixed reaction.

BRODHEAD (WKOW) -- It's a series that's received mixed reaction. Netflix's "13 Reasons Why" takes on the topic surrounding suicide.

The show tells the story of a 17-year-old girl who takes her own life, leaving behind 13 recordings for her friends that explain the reasons why she committed suicide.

It's a show that's gaining popularity with teens across the nations, including in Wisconsin. The show now has the Brodhead School District warning parents.

"I watched '13 Reasons Why' the day it came out," said sophomore Rhianna Teubert. "I know most of the people are watching it. They seem to like it."

But some say the show glorifies suicide. Mental health experts are warning parents the series could lead to copy-cats, especially among students who suffer from mental illness.

Read more and watch the video clip:
http://www.wkow.com/story/35337057/controversial-13-reasons-why-series-prompts-local-school-to-take-action

5 Tech Tools for Kids in Crisis | Common Sense Media

Many parents wonder how they would fare as a teenager in a world filled with social media drama, texting troubles, and cyber bullying. Whether they're the cause or symptomatic of deeper issues, the same tools kids use to connect can also trigger anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. For today's struggling kids, there's some hope. Popular apps, sites, and services offer guidance and help when, where, and how kids need it. Let kids know where they can find support:

Learn more: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/5-tech-tools-for-kids-in-crisis

WGCU Interview about Cyberbullying (Audio)

Although this is now a bit dated (April, 2010), still some good information:

Revenge Porn Research, Laws, and Help for Victims

With presidential candidate Hillary Clinton recently pledging at a town hall meeting that she would do whatever she could to end revenge porn (and cyberbullying [call us, Hillary, we can help! Donald, you too!]), I thought it was time to take a closer look at the phenomenon. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the latest research on sextortion – which is closely related – and discussed revenge porn two years ago when it started to ping our radars. Revenge porn – sometimes known as nonconsensual porn – has been defined as the act of distributing intimate photography through different means without the individual’s consent. While revenge is not always the motivating factor, this act seems to be increasingly utilized by the perpetrator as retaliation for romantic relationships going south, and is becoming more and more prominent with thegrowing popularity of sexting. Indeed, there are now an estimated 2,000 revenge porn web sites worldwide, and countless individuals have been repeatedly victimized through the availability of their intimate images in these venues.

Read more:

Revenge Porn Research, Laws, and Help for Victims - Cyberbullying Research Center
http://cyberbullying.org/revenge-porn-research-laws-help-victims

One Thing Snapchat Desperately Needs To Copy From Facebook And Twitter

ENGADGET

Facebook unveiled expanded suicide prevention tools Tuesday — and Snapchat has some catching up to do.

Snapchat, despite its popularity with young people, is lagging behind rivals when it comes to suicide prevention tools.

Facebook on Tuesday debuted expanded self-harm reporting tools on every version of its service. Anyone who sees a post that signals a friend may be having trouble can now go through a series of steps to report that content as “suicidal.” The social network will suggest you reach out to the person. And the individual who posted that content will then receive resources from the Facebook team to help them get help. Twitter has similar features.

Read more: http://new.www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snapchat-suicide-prevention_us_57601f1de4b053d4330653d9

TBH (To Be Honest) and More Slang Parents Should Know

https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/tbh-to-be-honest-and-more-slang-parents-should-know/ 

Bullying: My Kid Would Never Do That - Watch Dateline - June 28, 2015

The award winning news magazine is classic story-telling at its best, covering an array of stories that range from mysteries and breaking news, to hidden-camera investigations and documentaries.

http://www.nbc.com/dateline/video/dateline-june-28-2015/2876614?onid=209511#vc209511=1

Facebook Has A New Suicide Prevention Feature. Will It Work?

In February, Facebook announced that it was rolling out a suicide prevention feature. Although the social media platform has given users the option to report suicidal content since 2011, this new feature makes that process easier and provides those struggling with thoughts of self harm with a number of options for taking action.

Here's how it works: Upon seeing any comments from a friend implying self harm, users are given the option to contact their Facebook friend, another friend or a suicide helpline. From there, the person will be notified that a friend is concerned about them and asked if they'd like to call a friend or message a suicide prevention expert.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/27/facebook-suicide-prevention_n_7082396.html

Suicide Safe Is Now Available for Download!

Suicide Safe Is Now Available for Download! Today at the National Press Club, SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., unveiled Suicide Safe, the latest mobile app from SAMHSA. The app, based on the nationally recognized Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) card, is designed to help primary care and behavioral health providers integrate suicide prevention strategies into their practices and address suicide risk among their patients. Suicide Safe is now available for free on iOS® and Android™ mobile devices. Be among the first to try this new suicide prevention learning tool—optimized for tablets. Join SAMHSA for a live demo of the app today at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Register for the Live Webinar Videos of the launch event at the National Press Club and the app demonstration will be available on SAMHSA's YouTube channel at a later date. Stay tuned for email notification when both recordings become available.

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