Slide Notes dangers of social media

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Liberty University *

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730

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Communications

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by CoachRamMaster1420

Slide Notes [Slide 1] No Notes [Slide 2] Welcome to today's presentation on understanding the dangers of social media apps for children. I'm delighted to have you all here today as we delve into an important topic that impacts the safety and well-being of our children in the digital age. Throughout this presentation, we will explore the complexities of the digital world and how it influences our children's lives. We'll discuss the various social media apps that pose potential dangers to our children, shedding light on the risks they may face while navigating these platforms. Furthermore, we'll review the specific dangers children are subject to when using social media apps, including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, online predators, and privacy concerns. It's essential for us as parents to understand these risks and their implications for our children's safety and mental health. But it's not all doom and gloom. We'll also explore practical steps that parents can take to protect their children in the digital realm. From setting boundaries and monitoring their online activity to fostering open communication and staying informed about digital trends, we can implement many proactive measures to safeguard our children's online well-being.

Ultimately, the principal's goals for this presentation are to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to confidently navigate the digital landscape and protect your children from potential harm. Thank you for joining us, and let's dive into the discussion. [Slide 3] In today's rapidly evolving digital world, children grow up in an environment vastly different from previous generations. The proliferation of technology and the widespread use of social media platforms have transformed how children interact, learn, and communicate. However, with these advancements come complexities and challenges that parents must navigate to ensure their children's safety and well-being. [Slide 4] The digital world is characterized by its ever-changing nature. New technologies emerge regularly, and social media platforms evolve rapidly, introducing new features and functionalities. For parents, keeping up with these changes can be daunting, but it is essential to understand the landscape in which our children are immersed. The digital world offers unprecedented access to information and connectivity. While this presents incredible opportunities for learning and socialization, it also exposes children to many risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to exposure to inappropriate content and privacy concerns, the digital landscape can be fraught with dangers for young, impressionable minds (Macaulay et al., 2019) . Furthermore, the digital world blurs the lines between the online and offline realms. Children's online interactions can have real-world consequences, impacting their mental health, self-esteem,

and relationships (Abolfathi et al., 2022) . Understanding the interconnectedness of these two worlds is crucial for parents in guiding their children's behavior and ensuring their safety in both domains. Emphasizing the importance of understanding the digital landscape for parents is paramount. By staying informed about the latest technologies, social media trends, and online risks, parents can better equip themselves to protect their children. It allows parents to have meaningful conversations with their children about responsible digital citizenship, setting boundaries, and making informed decisions about their online activities (APA, 2023) . Ultimately, parents can play a proactive role in safeguarding their children's well-being by understanding the complexities of the digital world. It empowers them to confidently navigate the digital landscape, instilling in their children the knowledge and skills to thrive in an increasingly connected world. Honestly, I do not recognize these icons, do you? We have all heard about Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. We have seen many of the creators of these apps in front of Congress defending their platforms. However, many more social media and communication apps are not as widely known but are dangerous to our children. [Slide 5] Let us look at Yubo. I have a 17-year-old, and I asked her and her friend which app I should use as an example of a dangerous app for kids. They both simultaneously said, "Yubo ." I asked why, and they said, "It is like Tinder for teens. It's gross." So, I looked it up right there. I told them it's an app for making friends. They responded, "You don't want your kids to make those kinds of

friends," and then they giggled. It is marketed as a friend-making site. The company states it is not a dating site. That sets off red flags for me. There is a story out of Florida about a man who lured eight child victims using the app. The Uvalde shooter also used this app to tell what he was about to do. Bullying and racism are severe issues on this app, as the choice to speak with someone new is based on the user profile and image only, and feedback can be given (Gill, 2023). In addition to racism and bullying, mental health and well-being are put at risk. Yubo is trying to clean up their act, but if there is a way around their protective measures, kids and predators will find them. [Slide 6] Roblox, I bet you know someone who plays. It is marketed as a game where you create games others can play, and you can play games created by others. Roblox has over 65 million users daily; about half are under 12 (Reed, 2023). It has in-game chat features and friend lists. Collaboration is encouraged, and the platform makes joining groups and chats easy (Roblox, 2024). This open format of communication can lead to dangerous situations for young players. There are reports of hackers stealing information and items of value from players (CBS, 2024). Violent extremists are using the game to recruit children as young as 12 years old to join their extremist groups (Reed, 2023). Predators find and take advantage of child players. Children are being exposed to in-game sex clubs, drug use, and rape games. This depravity has become real for some children who have been victims of sexual assault by people they met in Roblox and were persuaded to meet in person (CBN, 2023). [Slide 7] Now, let's look at Discord. Discord is a popular communication platform for communities, gamers, and friends to connect, communicate, and collaborate. Launched in 2015, it has gained

widespread popularity, particularly among gaming communities, due to its versatile features and user-friendly interface. Discord offers text, voice, and video chats. Its users can join communities and dedicated spaces of those with shared interests and topics. These communities have enabled child predators to groom children. There are incidents of sexual exploitation and child pornography (Goggin, 2023). Three days before this recording, a man was charged for uploading child pornography in a community space on Discord (FOX43, 2024). Due to these discoveries and the dangers to our children, the United States government has gotten involved. Presently, the CEOs of Discord, Facebook, X, and Snap are before the U.S. Senate to testify on the exploitation of children on their sites. [Slide 8} The CEOs of these companies, Discord, X, TikTok, Snap, and Meta, are in front of Congress now. However, these are not the only online companies dangerous to our children. Many other apps and sites are just as harmful, if not more, and more are being developed. Our children have more unsupervised access to information and people than ever before. [Slide 9] FBI- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is actively investigating and combating cybercrimes involving children. These crimes encompass a range of offenses, including but not limited to child exploitation, online predation, child sex trafficking, sextortion, and cyberbullying. The FBI's Cyber Division is dedicated to combatting these crimes. They work collaboratively with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and international partners to identify and apprehend perpetrators, rescue victims, and prevent future victimization. Recently, a man was convicted of heinous crimes against children. The predator created a chat room on Discord and would stream minors engaged in self-harm and sexually explicit acts (DOJ, 2024).

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