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Students viewing pornographic images and sending sexually explicit photos in school prompts Granite School district to hold an internet safety and smartphone seminar for parents and students.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at 6 p.m. WHERE: Matheson Jr. High School (3650 S. 7730 West)
A student's online behavior can have a profound impact on their academic success and educational environment, Granite school district officials say. With smartphone use now commonplace among teens, and even preteens, Granite School District is taking steps to inform parents about the possible pitfalls that exist just a few taps or clicks away.
As part of an overall effort to teach parents about online dangers, the District will host a parent meeting to address Internet and smartphone app safety. The meeting will focus on apps and Internet sites that are popular among youth, and the potential dangers and problems those apps and sites may pose.
The internet and smartphone app safety seminar will be held at Matheson Jr. High School on Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at 6 p.m. All are welcome, parents and students in and outside of the school district middle school age or older.
Here are a list of some popular mobile apps to be aware of:
Facebook & Twitter - Many major social networking apps are equipped with Internet browsers that bypass blocked or monitored browsers when users click links from posts; both of these networks are liable to contain adult content in some form, and are possible avenues for cyberbulling
Instagram - Adult content can appear frequently on this photo and video sharing app used for many major social networks
Kik - Instant messaging app that acts as a free texting app; no parental controls; becoming a common avenue for sexting
Vine - Twitter app that allows users to create and share six-second videos; Twitter raised minimum age limit to 17+ for Vine after pornographic clips began appearing
Keek - Allows users to upload video status updates and share video content through major social media networks; no privacy settings
Ask.fm - Allows users to ask questions from other Ask.fm users; option of anonymity; often used for cyberbulling
Whisper - Users submit anonymous questions or confessions as a text over a picture; other users are allowed to comment and private message; carries a 17+ rating on the App Store
Snapchat - Photo messaging app; users take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to recipients with a set time limit for how long recipients can view their "Snaps" (1 to 10 seconds), after which they will be hidden from the recipient's device and deleted from servers
Tumblr - "Microblogging" service that allows users create content and post media on a short-form blog; high amount of pornographic content
Tinder - Online dating app; allows users 12+; intended to match users in a geographic area
Yik Yak - Allows users to post anonymous comments to users in a 5-10 mile radius; commonly used for threats and other forms of bullying; app was disabled in Chicago following multiple safe school violations; developer has said the app was intended for users "college-age and above"
