Chapter 7 PSA

For my PSA, I have chosen to focus on the topic of students posting and engaging in risky or unhealthy behaviors online. My target audience will be teachers or parents of teenagers.

In researching this topic, I have discovered a few startling facts. According to InternetSafety101.org, In 82% of online sex crimes against minors, the offender used the victim's social networking site to gain information about the victim's likes and dislikes. This is especially scary considering 95% of people age 12-17 are online, and 81% of those teens use some form of social networking. (Pew Research Center)

Just as disturbing are the facts that 12% of teens say they have witnessed cruel behavior "frequently" on social networking sites, and 15% of social media-using teens say they have been the target of online meanness. (Pew Research Center)

Teenagers need to feel safe and confident to be able to talk to a trusted adult, be it a parent, teacher, or some other adult figure in their lives. It’s our jobs as teachers and parents to give them a safe place to come and voice their concerns or fears about their lives online.

"InternetSafety101.org: Statistics." InternetSafety101.org: Statistics. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.

"Teens Fact Sheet." Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech RSS. 21 May 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2015.