YIPA's Response to Sexting and Cyberbullying

Anyone who works with young people has seen the influence that new technology has over their lives. According to the recent Kaiser Foundation Study, kids between the ages of 8-18 spend an average of 7 or more hours per day on the computer, on their cell phone or playing video games! New technology has the power to connect people across the world and to facilitate ways of learning that we could not have imagined even 10 years ago. On the other hand, new technology comes with new crimes and some of these crimes have hit young people the hardest.

Last year in Greensburg, PA a group of 14 and 15 year-old high school girls were charged with manufacturing child pornography after taking nude pictures of themselves on cell phones. The boys they sent those pictures to were also charged with possession of child pornography. Police charged these young people with high-level crimes, they say, in order to send a message that sexting is dangerous, but as a result, these teenagers could become registered sex offenders for years. More information.

To learn more about what parents and responsible adults can do to address sexting visit:

www.education.com/magazine/article/child-sexting-parents/ *

To get advice for the youth you serve visit: www.safeteens.com/teen-sexting-tips/ *

Also last year in South Hadley, MA a teenage girl took her own life after being the victim of repeated bullying on social networking sites. She received cruel text messages and other forms of harassment on Facebook and similar sites. Some young people even posted hurtful messages on her memorial page after her death. More information.

To learn more about cyberbullying try: www.stopcyberbullying.org *

These shocking and tragic stories have captured the interest of the nation, but beyond the publicity received by these cases, what can youth service providers do on a daily basis to prevent these kinds of things from happening? And if they do happen, where can we find strategies to help address sexting and cyberbullying?

Brian Stoll is a Senior Probation Agent for Wright County Court Services (Buffalo, Minnesota). Brian has been working with juveniles in the Criminal Justice System for eight years. He has worked in both correctional institutions and community corrections. Focused on evidenced based practices, he instituted a cognitive restructuring program aimed at youthful offenders. His expertise in the predatory offender registration process has been crucial in dealing with consequences from sexting and cyberbullying. Brian has presented training in a variety of settings ranging from large auditoriums to classrooms, and addressing educational and correctional professionals, as well as students and parents.

On March 5, 2010 he will be sharing his knowledge and expertise with us at YIPA’s first training of 2010, “Sexting and Cyberbullying in a New Age of Technology.” This presentation helps educate others on the seriousness and trends with this issue. It is comprised of statistics, videos, first-hand stories, and other valuable insights to further the education of professionals working with youth.

The presentation focuses on the consequences of sexting and the different strategies of how law enforcement and corrections may handle the issue when managing youthful offenders who commit the crime, often out of negligence. Cyberbullying is also addressed, specifically how traditional bullying has morphed to the new and more dangerous bullying with the use of technology.

The presentation is designed to provide information for professionals working with youth on how they help prevent sexting and cyberbullying and work with youth who may have committed the crime.

Come join us on March 5th from 1:00 – 3:00p.m. at Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul. To register.

* These are suggested resources not affiliated with YIPA or with Brian Stoll’s training.