How Can Schools Protect Children Online?

How Can Schools Protect Children Online?

School-aged children spend more time online than ever. Recently, Common Sense Media conducted a survey regarding the amount of time children and teens spend online. They discovered a spike in online activity for individuals between the ages of eight and eighteen. In...
Should Social Media Companies Be Responsible for Online Drug Dealers Targeting Kids?

Should Social Media Companies Be Responsible for Online Drug Dealers Targeting Kids?

Recently, news stories, lawsuits, and hearings have exposed the danger social media poses for young people. Lawmakers investigated how social media harms teens’ mental health. Others criticized the profusion of pornography on social media. A January Congressional...
Sextortion Crimes on School Computers

Sextortion Crimes on School Computers

At the end of 2023, the Department of Justice released a public safety alert regarding online sextortion crimes against children and teens. According to CNN, predators targeted “[a]t least 3,000 minors, mostly boys” with sextortion schemes. In comparison to previous...
What Schools Need to Know about Forums and Chatrooms

What Schools Need to Know about Forums and Chatrooms

The teenage years are periods of personal exploration, experimentation, and change. As such, teenage students frequently seek anonymous conversation online. According to The Routledge Companion to Digital Media and Children, anonymous online communication offers teens...
A Pranking Trend, Swatting, Escalated into a Crime Wave

A Pranking Trend, Swatting, Escalated into a Crime Wave

Swatting is an online gaming fad that has become a dangerous form of terrorism. The term “Swatting” was coined by the FBI in 2008 to describe the act of calling in a fake emergency that would require a SWAT team to respond. Usually, these are fabricated hostage...
School Cybersecurity in Mississippi: How LearnSafe Ensures School Safety

School Cybersecurity in Mississippi: How LearnSafe Ensures School Safety

Earlier this month, the Mississippi State Auditor’s office distributed a report regarding cybersecurity in schools. Specifically, the report addressed whether or not students were able to access online material that may be harmful or is not age appropriate. The report...