Police warn public of cyber-bullying, sexting

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

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EMC News - Const. Amy Haggerty believes no parent would ever give their teenager keys to the car without teaching them to drive - and the same principle applies to giving them cellphones and computers.

"Teenagers live and breathe their cellphones. And if you take it away, you're committing social suicide," said Haggerty. "But parents need to know what their kids are doing with them, and kids need to know what their responsibilities are."

That's why Haggerty is taking part in a talk on Feb. 15 at Adult High School on Rochester Street that will inform kids, and their parents, about how to be smart when using technology. Topics like sexting and cyber bullying will be discussed at the event.

Sexting, Haggerty said, is sending naked or semi-naked photos of yourself to somebody else - something that predominantly teenage girls are taking part in.

But, sexting can also lead to serious consequences - including child pornography charges for both teens and potentially their parents.

"(Teens) don't realize it could be illegal, so that's one of the things we're trying to get across," said Haggerty. "And if they're using an electronic device that their parents might use, they might be in possession of child pornography."

She added that there are other consequences to young people sexting that might not be legal, but could stay with you for years.

"The fact is that picture, once you send it, you will never be able to get it back," Haggerty said. "You lost complete and utter control over it, and you don't know if it will resurface."

She said some of the kids engaging in this activity are bright, with promising futures - but if that photo resurfaces, their doors could close.

Cyber bullying is also a problem that teenagers in previous years never had to deal with, Haggerty said.

"When I was in school, there were bullies then - and it ended at the end of the school day," she said. "But now with cyber bullying, you can't turn it off. It's 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

While there's no laws in the criminal code that apply to bullying, Haggerty said there are laws about harassment, assault and threats.

She said her role as a school resource officer is about intervening in bullying before it hits the criminal level.

At the end of February or early March, Haggerty also said she hopes to have presentations designed for just students on the long term consequences of issues like sexting.

"My goal in working on this project is getting students to just think about it," she said. "If they think about it and address it in their mind, they're better able to deal with it face-to-face."

Haggerty said that through this presentation and future ones, she also wants to help empower young girls and also show parents that they have to play a more proactive role in their children's lives online.

"We're trying to get parents to understand that they have a huge role in this," Haggerty said.

"If your kids are on Facebook, you need to be on Facebook with them, and monitor their cellphones."

She added that the upcoming presentation is geared toward all parents.

"Just because you have a really great kid who does well in everything, don't think this presentation isn't for you," Haggerty said.

The presentation will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Adult High School on Rochester Street.

kristy.wallace@metroland.com




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