Safety and
Education
for
Today’s
Technology
Central MN Sexual
Assault Center
Overview:
•CMSAC’s services
•Stats of Sexual Assault
•Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment
•Advancing Technology
•Sexting- legal consequences
•Internet
•Social Networking Sites
CMSAC
15 Riverside Drive NE
St. Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 251-4357
1-800-237-HELP
www.cmsac.org
Services:
•24 hour crisis line
•Medical, LE, Legal advocacy
•1:1 support
•Support groups
•Referrals
•Resources
•Prevention education
•Emergency Financial Assistance
Serving Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright Counties
Stats
•1 in 3-5 females
•1 in 7-10 males
Before their
th
18
Birthday!!
Sexual Assault
vs
Sexual Harassment
•Touching
•Groping
•Oral, Vaginal, Anal
Penetration
Sexual Assault
Schools
workplace
•Explicit photos
•Obscene Jokes
•Name-calling
•Solicitation/pressure
•“Sexting”
Sexual
Harassment
Advancing
Technology
•4 out of 5 teens
carry a cell phone!
(www.cbsnews.com)
Internet
Text/Chat
Music
Videos
Games
Calendar
Upload Photos
How far technology has come….
Cell phones vital to teens’
identities
•Social status
•Popularity
47% of teens state their social life would worsen or end
without a cell phone!
Preferred
Contact
Methods:
•Text: 54%
•Call (cell phone) 38%
•Face to face 33%
•Landline phone 30%
•Social Network Site 25%
•Instant message 24%
•Email 11%
(www.pewresearch.org)
The Texting Epidemic…
•72-88% of teen cell phone users
are texters
•1 in 3 teens 1,000 + texts/day
•Boys 30/day
•Girls 80/day
(www.pewresearch.org)
“Sexting”
Sending, uploading, receiving, or
forwarding sexually explicit videos
or photos.
(National Child Safety Council)
Stats
2009 survey by the National Campaign to
Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy…
•20% of teens admit to sexting
(www.knowledgebase.findlaw.com)
1 in 5 teens reported having sent a
sexually suggestive image or
message.
(www.netsmartz.org)
Famous Sexting Scandals….
Effects of the sexting scandals…
•Divorce
•Media Scrutiny
•DV
•Loss of sponsorship
•Sex rehab
•Fines
•Emotional/Psychological
Pain
WHY SEXT???
•Pressure
•Gain popularity/fame
•Be funny, joke around
•Prove commitment to a significant other
•Impress someone
•Money
•Response to a sexual
message
IT’S NOT WORTH IT!!!
Don’t make decisions with out thinking about how your
future may be affected.
Think of how
quickly
information can be
spread via cell
phones/internet!
It’s also not worth it because of the….
Legal Consequences
•Opening a sexually explicit photo from a
minor  CHILD PORN CHARGES
•Minors sending sexually explicit
messages may face
PRODUCING, POSSESSING,
DISTRIBUTING
CHILD PORN CHARGES
Felony Child Pornography Charges:
•Lifetime SO Registry
•Prison Time
•Fines
•Serious Reputation Damage
Felony:
•365+ days in jail/prison
•$3,000 minimum fine
•Both
*Nearly impossible to
find employment/
housing as a SO.
In The News…
Police Investigate Sexting At Chambersburg High School
Police: Upwards Of 30 Students Possibly Involved
“Last week, eight Perry County teens were charged with child pornography for
allegedly recording sex acts on their cell phones and sending them to others.”
5 Va. students charged with sexting
“Five Virginia high school students have been charged with felony counts
related to cell phone-transmitted pornographic images, officials said….
…The most recent charges stem from a female student at Franklin County High
School taking a male student's phone into a bathroom to take pictures of
herself, the Times reported.”
Lacey, Washington: Teens face felony charges for Sexting
http://espanol.video.yahoo.com/watch/6875741/17886433
In the News…
This year in Wisconsin, a 17-year-old was charged with possessing
child pornography after he posted naked pictures of his 16-year-old exgirlfriend online.
In Alabama, authorities arrested four middle-school students for
exchanging nude photos of themselves.
In Rochester, N.Y., a 16-year-old boy is now facing up to seven years in
prison for forwarding a nude photo of a 15-year-old girlfriend to his
friends.
‘Sexting’ surprise: Teens face child porn charges
6 Pa. high school students busted after sharing nude photos via cell
phones
In an unusual legal case arising from the increasingly popular practice known as
“sexting,” six Pennsylvania high school students are facing child pornography
charges after three teenage girls allegedly took nude or semi-nude photos of
themselves and shared them with male classmates via their cell phones.
The female students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pa., all 14or 15-years-old, face charges of manufacturing, disseminating or possessing child
pornography while the boys, who are 16 and 17, face charges of possession,
according to WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, which published the story on its Web site on
Tuesday.
Police told the station that the photos were discovered in October, after school
officials seized a cell phone from a male student who was using it in violation of
school rules and found a nude photo of a classmate on it. Police were called in and
their investigation led them to other phones containing more photos, it said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28679588/ns/technology_and_sciencetech_and_gadgets/
Example:
Jane takes a nude photo of her self and
sends it to John.
John forwards the image to Tim, and Tim
opens the image.
Jane production/distribution
John possession/distribution
Tim possession
Other Consequences…
•Social repercussions
•Being judged
•Excluded by peers, families
•Targets of rumors
•Harassment
•Embarrassment
•Disappointment
The image may follow a
person forever, damaging
academic, social and
employment opportunities.
How can I protect myself?
•NEVER take or send sexually suggestive photos.
Once you send something via electronic
devices…it is NO LONGER PRIVATE.
•THINK about the message BEFORE you press
send.
You could be creating a reputation you CANNOT
escape.
How can I protect myself?
•Consider the victims.
Many suffer humiliation, depression, and some
even attempt suicide.
•Don’t let anyone pressure you into sexting.
•Repot any sexts you receive to a trusted adult.
Don’t delete the message, it could be evidence
in a criminal investigation.
How can I protect myself?
•MAKE IT STOP.
If someone doesn’t stop sending you explicit
photos, block their number from your cell
phone.
Social Networking Sites (SNS)
SNS Pros and Cons
+ Create online communities
+ Ways for people to express themselves
+ Keep in contact with friends/family
+ Share pics, videos, personal updates, etc.
-Gives easy access to online predators
-You never know who is on the other side of the
computer screen
-Display personal info.
Safety Tips for SNS…
•DO NOT post full name, address, phone #
•Do not post info.
that easily identifies you
•Be careful when
updating statuses
IE “places” app
on FB
Safety Tips for SNS…
•Only post info you are comfortable with others seeing.
Many people can see your page!
(parents, teachers, the college you want to apply to in a
couple years, the job you might want to apply to in 5 years,
etc.)
•Look into the site’s privacy
Settings
•Be wary if a strange person
adds you as a friend
•Be wary if a new online friend
wants to meet in person.
Remember….
Once you post something online you can
never take it back.
•Re-consider before you post a photo. It can
be altered and broadcasted in ways you may
not be happy about.
•TRUST YOUR GUT if you have suspicions.
You could prevent someone else from being a
victim.
Questions/Comments?