Internet and Social Media Usage Among Children: Safety Implications for Professionals
Course Description
Social Media is not going away. As social media adapts and changes, young people are either creating the adaptations or adapting right along with it. Professionals can face a steep learning curve as they attempt to respond to new risks in the lives of the young people they serve. This presentation provides tools to help professionals get on the front end of the problem before they are faced head on with challenging mental health or criminal scenarios. The presentation will detail the risks children are facing and provide case studies, tools, and best practices for professionals working to respond. From unwanted exposure and sexual material to online enticement, the spectrum of behavioral concerns and online risks are vast and varied. This presentation will cover the trends in concerning online behaviors while highlighting promising prevention practices.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify the challenges that occur when developing brains and screen time collide
2. Understand how grooming is used in online exploitation cases with a specific focus on the attention/affection trap
3. Build awareness of motivation as to why young people are creating and sharing their own sexua images
4. Use recent cases where online behavior created additional harm to youth as a springboard for discussion around prevention
Instructors
Alison Feigh
