Hit Me On My Cell, Teens and Digital Abuse
Monday, November 30, 2009
Technology is creating a whole new kind of bullying and problems for our teens.
The problem goes by many names – textual harassment; sexting, digital abuse, cyber stalking. But what they all mean is that advances in technology can lead to dangerous behaviors for many teens and tweens, and families need help in dealing with these situations.
In a recent survey, teens in Weston reported that the three most frequent abusive behaviors include excessive calling and texting; insisting on knowing where you are and who you are with; and going through your personal belongings.
This corroborates a national survey which found that an alarming number of teens in dating relationship are being controlled, threatened and humiliated through cell phones and the internet with unimaginable frequency, and that a significant majority of parents are completely unaware of this abuse and the dangers facing their teens.
What: Hit Me on my Cell Phone: The Rise of Digital Abuse Among Teens and Tweens
When: December 3rd from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Saxe Middle School
Hit Me on my Cell Phone is designed to give families tools to deal with difficult situations. Moderated by former NBC Nightly News Weekend Anchor John Seigenthaler, the program will feature Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and an interactive Facebook/My Space Demonstration by cyber crimes expert Sgt Matthew Brodacki of the Weston Police Department. Rachelle Kucera Mehra, the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center will discuss the educational PeaceWorks Program and New Canaan High School Principal Tony Pavia will speak about the roll of bystanders.
The Program will recognize the outstanding work that students are doing at area high schools to deal with this problem – including a group of Youth Adult Partnership students from New Canaan High School as well as Students from Darien, Weston, Westport, and Wilton High Schools.
The program is free and is being sponsored by task forces from New Canaan, Darien, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
The problem goes by many names – textual harassment; sexting, digital abuse, cyber stalking. But what they all mean is that advances in technology can lead to dangerous behaviors for many teens and tweens, and families need help in dealing with these situations.
In a recent survey, teens in Weston reported that the three most frequent abusive behaviors include excessive calling and texting; insisting on knowing where you are and who you are with; and going through your personal belongings.
This corroborates a national survey which found that an alarming number of teens in dating relationship are being controlled, threatened and humiliated through cell phones and the internet with unimaginable frequency, and that a significant majority of parents are completely unaware of this abuse and the dangers facing their teens.
What: Hit Me on my Cell Phone: The Rise of Digital Abuse Among Teens and Tweens
When: December 3rd from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Saxe Middle School
Hit Me on my Cell Phone is designed to give families tools to deal with difficult situations. Moderated by former NBC Nightly News Weekend Anchor John Seigenthaler, the program will feature Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and an interactive Facebook/My Space Demonstration by cyber crimes expert Sgt Matthew Brodacki of the Weston Police Department. Rachelle Kucera Mehra, the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center will discuss the educational PeaceWorks Program and New Canaan High School Principal Tony Pavia will speak about the roll of bystanders.
The Program will recognize the outstanding work that students are doing at area high schools to deal with this problem – including a group of Youth Adult Partnership students from New Canaan High School as well as Students from Darien, Weston, Westport, and Wilton High Schools.
The program is free and is being sponsored by task forces from New Canaan, Darien, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
