“It affects our youth and their innocence,” – Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Community Outreach Coordinator Malissa Beaver
OKMULKE, Oklv. – School is back in session, which means there will be plenty of posting on social media from students throughout the school year. However, in spite of this there are always online safety precautions that can be taken in order to avoid scams, and stolen personal information. Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police sat down with Mvskoke Media to discuss tips on how to stay safe online and how to properly monitor students’ online presence.
MCN Lighthorse Community Outreach Coordinator Malissa Beaver (Mvskoke) discussed social media and her experience as a parent who monitors her children’s online presence and habits.
There are certain online applications, or apps, that students can keep secretive about from their parents. However, parents can browse through smart device settings that show exactly what students are using. Some apps like Vault can conceal user content.
Beaver noticed how students communicate with one another through social media has changed with applications like Instagram, Snapchat and Volts. Beaver used her oldest daughter as an example. When she sends a text message to her daughter, the message will not be answered right away. However, if the message is sent through Snapchat, it will receive a response more urgently.
Beaver knows some students use alternate social media apps where online predators may be lurking. Social media is a heavy responsibility for students and adults alike.
“It affects our youth and their innocence,” Beaver said
Nowadays dating apps are available through social media. Beaver acknowledges that there are situations where a person can be “catfished”. This refers to when someone engages with a fake online profile that contains false information. The purpose of these fake profiles are to prey on vulnerable online users for personal gain.
“Predators use different pictures but nowadays predators are getting braver using their own pictures and getting smarter about how they work things. They know how to choose the vulnerable ones,” Beaver said.
Staying Safe Online
According to the United Nations website in regard to online predators, it states, “most alarming is the threat of online sexual exploitation and abuse. It has never been easier for child sex offenders to contact their potential victims, share imagery and encourage others to commit offenses. Some 80% of children in 25 countries report feeling in danger of sexual abuse or exploitation online. Children can also be put at risk when tech companies breach their privacy to collect data for marketing purposes. Child-targeted marketing through apps – and the excessive screen time it often results in – can compromise a child’s healthy development.”
Speaking about online privacy, Beaver stated that whatever is shared online will always be online, regardless if it is deleted. Law enforcement agencies like MCN Lighthorse Police have the ability to recover information that has been deleted. Beaver wants online users to keep this in mind before they post personal information.
Beaver said that there are always safety precautions that parents or guardians can use. A good start includes learning about the apps students are wanting to use, and getting familiar with the applications’ privacy settings, especially settings that involve location sharing. Although location sharing may be beneficial for parents or guardians, it can be used to notify online predators.
“So if you are going to allow your kids to utilize social media, at least do your homework with them and learn the safe ways to utilize them,” Beaver said.
Guardians and grandparents may not be as media savvy as their children or grandchildren. However, it is still important to discuss what information is being shared online.
For more information, contact Malissa Beaver by email at mbeaver@muscogeenation.com or call at 918-732-7813.
