Cell Phones and Texting

How can I make it safer?

Important discussions to have…

  • Teach students about the public nature of text messaging. What they text to someone can be shared with anyone. To avoid potentially uncomfortable situations, stress the importance of being very careful about what they include in a text message.
  • Tell students that they must have parental permission before sharing their cell phone number.
  • Tell students that if meeting with someone they first met via text messaging or phone for the first time, they need to bring a parent or trusted friend along.
  • Explain to students that it's illegal to threaten someone, and that they should tell a safe adult if threatened over the phone or through a text message.
  • Remind students that replying to a voice/text message will disclose their cell phone number to strangers via caller identification (ID).
  • Discourage students from answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.
  • Remind students to always remain aware of their surroundings.
  • Stress that students should never send pictures/videos of themselves from their cell phone.
  • Reinforce the idea that students should never respond to any unwanted messages.
  • Teach students to trust their instincts — that if they feel a situation is potentially unsafe, it probably is.
  • Teach students that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age.
  • Suggest students review textED.ca, an innovative and interactive website designed to teach teens how to be safe, responsible and respectful users of texting technologies.

For more information visit http://www.mobility.protectchildren.ca