Two weeks ago I was asked to speak to a group of 3rd to 5th graders about social media. It was an unusual request since I generally won’t speak to kids that young. However they had a problem: A 4th grade girl was sending naked pictures of herself to 3rd and 5th grade boys. I was shocked.
Issues today in schools have skyrocketed in recent years. Three years ago these issues were reserved for high school. Today, I spend more time in middle schools — simply because social media has trickled down to younger siblings.
Abusive social media now includes recording violent acts and posting them to social media; recording sexual acts and sharing them on YouTube, Instagram and Vine; and mocking fellow students through anonymous apps such as After School, Whisper and Yik Yak.
I came across this article focused on Wales. Although It sits miles away across the pond — their issues seem so similar to what I encounter while presenting the evolution of social media among teens and tweens.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/online-abuse-parents-sexting-among-11094686
