If you're new to this blog, here's a bit of background information about TxSSC as well as some observations I've made since joining the staff in April 2008.
The Texas School Safety Center was created in 1999, partly in response to the Columbine school shooting, as a centralized location for technical assistance and training for Texas school districts concerning topics related to school safety. In addition to school safety, TxSSC also focuses on tobacco prevention and youth leadership. Our services are free to schools, as we are funded by the legislature through Texas State University – San Marcos.
The funding for my position came in 2007 from Senate Bill 136, which required TxSSC to create a program providing instruction about Internet safety, including cyberbullying, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General.
Upon joining TxSSC in April 2008, I developed an awareness training for youth and adults about internet safety and began delivering it around the state. In 2009 I spoke to more than 2,000 youth and about 1,300 adults, spanning rural and urban areas, low and high socioeconomic status, and every Texas demographic.
I’d like to share with you a few observations I’ve made as I traveled around the state.
Students, for the most part, do not understand the terms adults give these topic, such as cyberbullying or online solicitation. This is a major cause of the knowledge gap between adults and youth. More importantly, students do not separate and categorize their problems the way adults do for them. They do not keep a drug file and a bullying file; it’s the life they live and everything is connected to their relationships.
Another area of concern that widens the gap is privacy. The definition of privacy has certainly changed for our young people which creates a space for adults and youth to clash. However, it’s important to note that youth treasure their privacy and will fight for it, even if it looks different to them than to adults.
Perhaps not the most serious, but one of the biggest risks young people face online is posting pictures and content in a way that can negatively impact their futures. We’ve heard countless stories of youth who’ve lost scholarships, jobs, and opportunities to better their lives because of what they have posted online.
Along the same lines, youth do not recognize online risks the same way adults do, which hurts the effectiveness of our messages. One major goal at TxSSC is to incorporate youth input so that we reach their peers more effectively. In my experience they want real life stories and examples of real life consequences. They also need tangible steps they can take to contribute to their own safety, questions they can ask themselves, and strategies to make good decisions about what they post online.
Here’s a good start, courtesy of Nancy Willard at
The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use:
What’s the situation?
Who’s involved?
How would I feel if my actions were reported in a newspaper?
Would it be okay if I did this in Real Life?
How would this reflect on me?
If you would like more information about TxSSC or youth risk online, please contact me at rs53@txstate.edu or 512-245-8082.
