Social Media and Responsibility

By Erin Hapgood Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney

(Updated September 2019)Original Presentation prepared with the assistance of Kem Nguyen Le St. Margaret’s School, Class of 2019

Why do we use social media?- Validation - a measure of social “success”- Connection- Attention

- Likes and followers- Comments

- To Gain Pleasure and Avoid Anxiety- Do not want to be “left out”- Releases oxytocin, leading to greater feelings of trust, love, closeness

- No need for emotional and cognitive effort of face-to-face interactions - Project the image you want

- Public Self v. Private Self (Insta v. Finsta)- Because everyone else does- Loving the DRAMA

Don’t be a Fool- Beware trends and odd online content- Not everything you see is real, but

there are real dangers- Claims that seem extreme or

fantastical are often not true- Making threats or offering money

“Slenderman”

Do you know what you are signing up for??Snap, Inc. Terms of Service

No one under 13 is allowed to create an account

You will not create more than one account for yourself.

You will not share your password.

You are responsible for any activity that occurs in your Snapchat account. So it’s important that you keep your account secure.

[Y]ou also grant us a perpetual license to create derivative works from, promote, exhibit, broadcast, syndicate, sublicense, publicly perform, and publicly display Public Content [like your Stories] in any form and in any and all media or distribution methods (now known or later developed). To the extent it’s necessary, when you appear in, create, upload, post, or send

Public Content, you also grant Snap Inc., our affiliates, and our business partners the unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual right and license to use your name, likeness, and voice, including in connection with commercial or

sponsored content.

Who is Responsible for what Appears in your Account?YOU and ONLY YOU

- “I gave someone my password” - NOT a defense at school, and NOT effective in court

- “I got hacked”- No you didn’t. Strangers to do not hack your account to say mean things about your

classmate - If it is something you would deny later

- DON’T POST IT- Follow the “Grandma Rule”:

- If it is something you would not want your Grandma or the FBI to see DON’T POST IT- Do not allow others to post what you are too cowardly to post yourself

Responsibility and Accountability- NOTHING you post is EVER private

- Once it is out there, you lose control over it- NOTHING you post EVER goes away (not even your Snaps)

- “While it's true that we value ephemerality in our Snaps and Chats, some information may be retrieved by law enforcement through proper legal process.” https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/a/cooperation-with-law-enforcement

- “[A]s Snapchat itself acknowledges, it has no control over who screenshots or saves your snaps. Not everything that happens on Snapchat stays on Snapchat” http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/34698257/snapchat-terms-and-conditions-are-clarified-after-privacy-fears

- Objectionable posts:- Bullying- Racism- Sexually promiscuous behavior or images- Illegal activity- Threats of violence

- There are CONSEQUENCES for your posts

SAFETY and SECURITY- NEVER friend anyone you do not know in person

- They may not be who they say they are- Pictures tell you nothing

- Public settings- ALWAYS check your privacy settings- Public profiles are much higher risk

- Information Sharing- Who you are- Where you are- Who your friends with- Where you live and go to school- Schedule (sports, leave school early etc.)

- Do not share your passcode or password with anyone for any reason (Except your parents or guardians, who are entitled to know your passwords)

Security - Connecting with Strangers- If you don’t pay with money, you are the currency (your

information)- Bad guys PREY where you PLAY, even on PS4 and Xbox

- NEVER tell where you go to school- NEVER tell where you live

- Beware the “newest” apps as they come up, especially if they allow you to connect with strangers

- Unless you have met the person IN PERSON, you CANNOT know who is on the other side of the keyboard

Effects of Frequent UsageEighth graders who spend 10 or more hours a week on social media are 56 percent more likely to say they are unhappy than those who spend less time.Eighth graders who are heavy users of social media increase their risk of depression by 27 percent.Girls, especially hard hit, have experienced a 50 percent rise in depressive symptoms.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

Effects of Cyber-Bullying“It’s the whispers behind people’s backs, ’can you believe so and so’s post’, where the most damage occurs. Even if you’re not involved, it’s really hard

not to get caught up in the drama.”

- Victim internalizes and becomes self-critical- Feels powerless- Feels isolated- Blames self for differences; try to change

- Depression, low self-esteem and emotional instability- Withdraw from activities- Ripple effects - bullied becoming bullies, behavior problems, or even physical

symptoms

- Kills originality and encourages conformity - differences can make targets, but differences should be celebrated

Why are Posts so Emotionally Destructive?- Easier to be cruel when online than face-to-face

- The impact of seeing a record of the insult, embarrassing moment or missed party is more psychologically impactful than hearing about it

- It never goes away; shared again and again

PITY THE BULLY

- Broken home (maybe violence or hostility)- Lack attention from caregivers (feeling of rejection)- Feel insecure in their personal relationships

- Stress- Lost loved one- Trauma

- Low self esteem- Negative self-image- Deflect onto others- Need to criticize others to get a feeling of power, purpose and control

- More likely to have been bullied (want revenge; defense mechanism)- Higher risk for substance abuse- Higher risk for depression, anxiety and hostility- Boredom from lack of purpose and goals

How to Stop Cyberbullying- REPORT - you are helping the bully too

- If you are being bullied OR if you know of someone being bullied- Tell your parents or school staff

- Do not participate in any bullying - At the very least, remove yourself from the conversation or chat- Do not share mean or embarrassing posts

- Be more than a bystander- Stand with the victim and don’t reward the bully- Stand up for your fellow students

- If someone is bullying you, remember:- You are not alone- It is not your fault- Do not bully back. Do not bully anyone else- Do not let the bully win. Keep doing what you love to do

Is your Phone Private?

NO

Who has the Right to Access your Phone and Social Media?PARENT OR GUARDIAN

SCHOOL

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Juveniles have NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY on their phones.

Your guardians are entitled to know your passcodes and passwords

Your guardians may take your phone at ANY TIME for ANY REASON

Even if you paid for it yourself, or it was a gift from someone else

What can happen when you post without thinking? School Discipline

Ridicule or embarrassment

Future Implications ( Jobs, education)

Criminal Charges

School DisciplineSuspension (future implications - Governor’s School, college, job training)

Saturday School

Expulsion

Or even Referral for Criminal Prosecution

Criminal Charges§ 18.2-427. Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods.

Any person who uses obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious, or indecent language, or makes any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature, or threatens any illegal or immoral act with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass any person, over any telephone or citizens band radio, in this Commonwealth, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

"Over any telephone" includes, for purposes of this section, any electronically transmitted communication producing a visual or electronic message that is received or transmitted by cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications device. Virginia Code Sec. 18.2-427 Use of profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways or by other methods.

Also, § 18.2-152.7:1. Harassment by computer

INCLUDES ANY AND ALL THREATS OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

Future Implications- Colleges

- Admissions officers WILL look at all your social media- Some may even request you to provide your password so they can review the entire account

- Jobs- Every employer is likely to Google you- May require you to list your social media accounts- Will not hire someone who does not appear serious, or posts overly sexual images or images

of partying- Military

- Rescind offers of enlistment- Court-martial

- Even “unobjectionable” content can lead to trouble- Excessive selfies- Political or social issues

Lookin’ a fool

Can We AutoCorrect Humanity?