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FBI Special Agents Educate Vista Students On Cybercrimes Against Children
May 14, 2014
On May 14, 2014, FBI special agents spoke to Vista del Lago High School students about cybercrimes against children.“Today is not about cyberbullying,” Vice Principal Lori Emmington said to students, prefacing the talk. “It’s about something completely different.”
To begin his presentation, Special Agent Scott Schofield surveyed the teenagers about their various social networking platforms, defining social media as when you put information about yourself online and people comment.
To begin his presentation, Special Agent Scott Schofield surveyed the teenagers about their various social networking platforms, defining social media as when you put information about yourself online and people comment.
He then told students to think about what information they are giving away, and who they are giving it to.
“I think the Internet is a great tool … but, just like any other tool, it has to be used the right way,” Schofield said.
Students then directed their attention to the screen, where it was revealed that, as of the end of 2013, Facebook has 1.23 billion users, so 1 out of every 7 people on earth have an account.
Perhaps the most shocking trend was that only 34 percent of Facebook users are between 18 and 29 years old.
Schofield also discussed the photo-sharing site Instagram, which, according to his presentation, over 150 million people have joined as of December 2013.
Realize, however, this presentation was not intended, Schofield said, to single out the two social networking giants. He asked students to apply his notes to all of their online mediums.
Realize, however, this presentation was not intended, Schofield said, to single out the two social networking giants. He asked students to apply his notes to all of their online mediums.
Schofield also discussed how students’ digital footprints follow them, citing a study that found college admissions officers and employers are now googling students.
“Here’s the issue, guys, you can post things on the Internet [that] can have an effect on what you do,” Schofield said. “And what you don’t do.”
Schofield then asked the students who had the most friends on Facebook. The highest? One child said he had 1700 followers.
Schofield then asked the students who had the most friends on Facebook. The highest? One child said he had 1700 followers.
In response, Schofield asked the boy if he, the FBI special agent, was one of these friends. Why? Because Schofield then reported that between 68 and 138 million accounts are fake, and he accounts for one of the accounts. He revealed that he is also a 14-year-old girl on Facebook in an undercover account.
If students don’t know every single follower in person, then they are giving information away to the world, Schofield said. Even when adults and children delete a post after two minutes, any one of their followers can screenshot it within two seconds, he added.
“Even if it’s private, who can still see your account?” He asked. “Your friends.”
For this reason, the 35-year-old agent said that the coming generation is very unique. When he was in high school, he didn’t have to worry that 30 seconds of stupidity would end up on YouTube.
He wants students to make good, responsible technological choices. He said that in addition to the “rule” of don’t take candy from a stranger, students should also never chat with strangers online, or meet up with someone in person they met over the Internet.
Similarly, the FBI agent said that there is nothing children or adults should do online that they wouldn’t want parents or a significant others to see.
He likewise reminded the students that asking someone under 18 for an inappropriate photo is illegal—the production of child pornography warrants 15 years of jailtime minimum. Even minors who take these photos are liable for the same sentence.
He likewise reminded the students that asking someone under 18 for an inappropriate photo is illegal—the production of child pornography warrants 15 years of jailtime minimum. Even minors who take these photos are liable for the same sentence.
“You guys would be better off sending those photos directly to me,” he said.
Students shuddered at the truth of this statement—only Schofield could guarantee that their photos wouldn’t be online.
Some students hadn’t realized before the talk that identity theft can occur when they post the typical picture of their driver’s license on their 16th birthday, or that hackers can easily get a hold of their phone number in certain applications.
However, all hope is not lost.
“You have the ability to impact young people like you have no idea,” he said. “The question is how you are going to use your time.”
“You have the ability to impact young people like you have no idea,” he said. “The question is how you are going to use your time.”
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