Details Of South African Police Service ( SAPS ) Childs Safety | Teens
Dealing with cyberbullying
With the advent of technology, bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards or street corners. Cyberbullying can occur anywhere, even at home, through email, texts, cellular phones or social media websites. For those who suffer cyberbullying, the effects can be devastating, leaving you feeling hurt, humiliated, angry, depressed or even suicidal. However, no type of bullying should ever be tolerated. These tips can help you protect yourself online and deal with the growing problem of cyberbullying.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying occurs when a child or teen uses the Internet, emails, text messages, instant messaging, social media websites, online forums, chat rooms or other digital technology to harass, threaten or humiliate another child or teen. Cyberbullies come in all shapes and sizes. Almost anyone with an Internet connection or cellular phone can cyberbully someone else,Read More
The Internet and social websites are part of everyday life, but it could be dangerous and you should ensure your safety online. Children are especially susceptible to the threats that the Internet and social networking websites present. By teaching children about Internet safety, being aware of their online habits and guiding them to appropriate websites, parents can make sure that their children become safe and responsible users on social networking websites.
What are the dangers when using the Internet and social media websites?Learn More
- Personal Safety
- Drugs
- Sexting
What is sexting?
Sexting is the act of sending a picture/photograph of yourself naked or semi-naked, using electronic means. It also involves sending flirtatious or sexual messages to others, often using acronyms and abbreviations.
What are the dangers of sexting?
Sexting can have dangerous consequences. You should be aware that it is no longer a fun joke when the “sexted” images are shared among thousands of people, and it can ruin your future. Here are some of the dangerous consequences that you can suffer:
- Loss of control: Once an image, message or video has been shared, the sender has lost all control of where or how it will be distributed or used.
- Humiliation: The humiliation caused by having your explicit content circulated, can be devastating. In some tragic cases the level of despair and shame has led people to serious self-harm and even suicide.
- “Sextortion”: A combination of the words “sex” and “extortion”. Extortionists and blackmailers have always leveraged their knowledge of other’s indiscretions, or their possession of compromising images and communications. There is no shortage of “sextortionists” hoping to leverage their victim’s sexual content for their own financial, or sexual, benefit.
- Legal consequences: Sexually-explicit photographs, videos and communications, even when sent between minors under the age of 18, may be classified as child pornography, and the taker of the image, the recipient of the image and anyone who shares the content, may be charged and found guilty of crimes.
- Social consequences: These can include humiliation, bullying and cyberbullying.
- Physical consequences: Sexual content can increase the likelihood of becoming a victim of physical abuse. These images can end up on the Internet and in the hands of paedophiles.
What can I do to protect myself?
- Never share, copy or download the sexually explicit image in any way.
- If someone asks you to send a naked picture of yourself or to participate in sexting, ask them to stop or just do not reply at all. But if they are still bothering you or making you feel upset, block them.
- If an adult has been making you do things you feel uncomfortable with, such as asking you to share pictures of yourself online or by text, tell an adult you can trust about it.
REMEMBER – You have the right to say “NO”!