Where do you draw the digital line?
In our district’s version of the “23 Things,” we ask participants to create a profile on MySpace or Facebook. Many are shocked at the kinds of photos and personal information they see posted by their students. The new forms of digital communication add new layers of complexity to the social pressures that our students face daily.
Now there’s a great resource out there for teens who are dealing with textual harassment, cell phone trouble, constant IMing, etc. – thatsnotcool.com.
From the site’s About page:
Your cell phone, IM, and social networks are all a digital extension of who you are. When someone you’re with pressures you or disrespects you in those places, that’s not cool.
Thatsnotcool.com is attempting to raise awareness about digital dating abuse and stop it before it gets worse. Sponsored and co-created by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Office on Violence Against Women and the Ad Council, the site is designed to address new and complicated problems between teens who are dating or hooking up—problems like constant and controlling texting, pressuring for nude pictures, and breaking into someone’s e-mail or social networking page.
The site features 2-Sided Stories (videos like the one above designed to spark discussion), Call Out Cards (responses to harassment that can be posted on social networking sites or e-mailed), Talk It Out (a forum where teens can discuss these issues), plus links and phone numbers for those seeking immediate help from abuse.
This is a great site to share with middle and high school teachers/counselors, as well as your students.
