08/29/2026
All across the country over the last several years, Police have received an increasing number of reports of online problems involving school aged web surfers and the rise of online schooling. We understand that talking with kids about online safety can be hard. At times, they are more technologically advanced than we are. Below are some good things to consider for yourself, your kids, or when talking to your student. Most probably seems like "common sense," but "common sense" can be very uncommon sometimes.
--The Internet has a good memory, like forever--
Just because the Internet is so massive does not mean that embarrassing or n**e pictures, rude or mean comments, or illegal activities will disappear forever. Watch what you post about yourself, others, or what you allow your friends to post about you. Your online footprint could keep you from that Ivy League School or your dream job later in life.
--Be a Good Online Citizen--
Writing "hate" emails, hacking into other people's computers, and making online threats are just as illegal on the Internet as they are in the real world. We at SWPD have at least a few criminal investigations related to threats every school year. And in most of those situations, the suspect is arrested and prosecuted. You cannot hide behind a screen name and get away with it. Almost everything on the Internet is traceable, including every search, website visit, online posting, and email, which is registered or recorded somewhere in cyberspace. Once you send something out on the Internet, it's almost impossible to take it back.
--What Is Cyberbullying--
It's not just strangers who can make you feel uncomfortable. Cyberbullying refers to cruel or bullying messages sent to you online. These might be from former friends or other people you know. They can also be sent anonymously on a website where everyone has a screen name, so teens being bullied might not even know who is bullying them.
If you get bullying messages online, it's often better to ignore them rather than respond. Cyberbullies, just like other bullies, are usually looking for attention or a reaction. By ignoring them, you can take away their power. You can also delete or block bullies to stop seeing their texts.
Fortunately, most people never experience cyberbullying. But if you're getting cyberbullied and ignoring it doesn't make it stop, getting help from a parent, school counselor, or another trusted adult might be a good idea. That's especially true if the cyberbullying contains threats.
--People Live in "Fantasyland" Online--
Even though someone writes, "Hi, I'm a really cool 13-year-old girl from California," in reality, that actually might be a 60-year-old man or even your next-door neighbor, gross. Sorry to break the news, but that handsome guy from Australia didn't randomly find you just because he was bored while traveling the world and wanted to get to know you better. Use scrutiny and caution.
As in everyday life, you can always prevent problems, but you can often limit your risk of them.