Ask students to consider the following questions:

•  How would you respond to a hateful or embarrassing comment on one of your social posts?

• What would you do if your friends misconstrued a comment you shared in a group text and collectively started excluding you?

• What would you do if you discovered a terrible rumour circulating about you online? 

• Where would you turn? Where would you go for support and guidance? 

Take Action!

1. Define digital abuse: "For kids, the digital conversation never ends, which makes it easier for unacceptable behaviors to become acceptable over time." 

2. Talk about how its public and permanent: "Reinforce that  everything — even pictures shared between best friends in a “private” chat or text — is considered public." 

3. Steer clear of drama magnets: "While conflict is part of life, digital conflict is a new level of destruction that should be avoided whenever possible. Innocent comments can quickly escalate out of control. Texting compromises intent and distorts understanding. Immaturity can magnify miscommunication." 

4. Mix Monitoring and Mentoring:  "To monitor, know what apps your kids use and routinely review their social conversations (without commenting on their feeds). Also, consider a security solution to help track online activity. As a mentor, listening is your superpower. Keep the dialogue open, honest, and non-judgmental and let your child know that you are there to help no matter what."