Sunday, February 14, 2016

What is Catfishing and Sexting?

What is Sexting?

Using a phone or electronic device to send explicit messages, photos and videos. 

Dangers of sexting:


  • The sender has no control over the message once it is sent
  • Could cause the sender to get unwanted attention or sexual harassment
  • Could have negative effects on the senders relationships with friends and family
  • Could result in embarrassment and humiliation

Of teens that sext, 17% share the 
message they receive with others 
and of that 17%, 55% share the 
message with more than one person 

For more information on sexting and online bullying check out the website before you text, modules 5, 6, and 7 would be helpful in the classroom.

What is Catfishing?

Using a fake online profile to lure another person in or using a fake profile to ruin another person's reputation. 

Dangers of Catfishing:

  • The person being conned could be abducted or assaulted 
  • Emotional harm from being conned
  • Reputations could be destroyed 

A study conducted showed one 
out of ten online dating profiles are fake

For more information on cat fishing check out teengagement, this site has resources for parents and teachers to help teacher kids about catfishing and staying safe online. 




2 comments:

  1. Hi Anna!

    I think that catfishing and sexting are such important issues to be aware of. Technology has become so deeply engrained in our students' everyday lives. A significant amount of the social interactions that kids engage in occurs through technology (social media, texting, etc.). Of course this comes with pros and cons as does everything in life.

    The scary thing about communicating through technology is that you don't always know who you're talking to, even if you think you do! It is so important to help kids understand that just because someone tells you who they are doesn't mean that you actually know who they are. Have you seen that show on MTV called "Catfish"? I'm not sure how I feel about using the issue as a form of entertainment for young adults, but it does shine light on the fact that catfishing is a real issue and that people are not always who they claim to be.

    I found this awesome article that explains what catfishing is, the "types" of catfish that exist, and how to tell if you are being catfished. Hope you enjoy it!

    http://www.digitaltrends.com/web/its-catfishing-season-how-to-tell-lovers-from-liars-online-and-more/

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is a huge concern. Also, think of the school's standpoint. On one hand, things can spill over into the school day. However, if the online conversations occur after school hours on personal devices, they are limited in their power to police these actions.

    ReplyDelete