Cybertraps Podcast

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To Catch a Creep Cybertraps 136 Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

News Item – Students at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, RI set up a Discord subchannel to document inappropriate behavior by a teacher
North Kingstown School District is a hot mess
In April 2022, a series of lawsuits were filed against the District, high school administrators, and former boys’ basketball coach Aaron Thomas.
The suit alleges that Thomas ordered boys to strip naked and then used calipers on their thighs to allegedly measure body fat percentage
Complaints were made about Thomas’s behavior in 2017 and 2018, but the suit alleges that nothing was done
Players felt coerced to cooperate because they were competing for spots on the team and playing time
Defendants named in the lawsuit include:
- School committee members
- North Kingston finance director
- Former district superintendent Philip Auger
- Former HS principal and assistant superintendent Denise Mancieri
- Former teacher/coach Aaron Thomas
A second lawsuit alleges that the District was slow to take action against a different coach who stalked a young student for weeks
- Parents complained repeatedly to school officials but received little cooperation
- Eventually, the teacher was removed from the district but went on to work in two other districts and is still licensed in Rhode Island
Retired judge Susan McGuirl conducted an independent review of the District’s response to the Thomas complaints and concluded that the District and several of its employees had failed to take appropriate action
- When a school fails, they lost the trust of the community that they serve. Schools must recognize their failures and making the necessary changes to prevent something like this from happening again. That trust must be rebuilt, and that will take time, To rebuild this trust, they must be candid and transparent with the community they serve regarding the changes they are making and any future situations they may encounter.
Following the report, administrators Auger and Mancieri resigned. In addition, the U.S. Attorney for the state of Rhode Island opened an investigation
In July, six statements were filed with the U.S. Attorney regarding inappropriate behavior by two former North Kingstown coaches. They were accused of finding excuses to watch middle school girls in dance classes, inappropriate comments, encouraging sexualized dancing in class, and overly intimate spotting and assisting during gymnastics and exercise classes
- In his statement, a current Davis Middle School male student alluded to a “log regarding the comments and conduct that bothered us.”
The Boston Globe obtained a copy of the log and reported on it in early September 2022
- Several sixth grade boys were uncomfortable with how a teacher was treating their female classmates
- By seventh grade, they decided to take notes, and tried to tell adults (parents? other teachers? administrators?) what was going on. They did not feel anyone was taking them seriously.
- In January 2021, decided to electronically document different incidents
- They set up a Discord subchannel, named it after the teacher, and labeled it “Pedo Database.”
- The kids took notes in real time: “During COVID, as they attended class online, they’d open the Discord channel on a split-screen and document the teacher’s comments …”
- “Once they were back in class in person, the boys jotted down notes to add to the channel later…”
- “The “Pedo Database” is in the hands of the US attorney’s Office, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the state Department of Education, and with lawyer Matthew Oliverio, who is conducting the school’s internal investigation.”
- Screenshot shows Discord conversation and the savvy with which the boys took notes: teacher comments, students at whom they were directed, date/time
- [Discord.png]
Takeaways
Decent kids; great of them to look out for their classmates
Adults should do a better job of listening to kids
Kids are increasingly sophisticated about the world and how technology can be used to interact with it
Kids are not necessarily fully cognizant of the harm that can be caused by casually using or misusing certain words
Kids are not trained investigators nor are they necessarily unbiased observers
Technology continues to shift traditional power dynamics; kids have access to endless communication and collaboration tools, many invisible to adults
Potential for abuse by students is not insignificant; false accusations are not uncommon
Resources
S.E.S.A.M.E. (Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct, and Exploitation) “https://www.sesamenet.org/ ”

- #2022–09–12 New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment “https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/hartford/schools/new-england-teacher-on-leave-after–8-middle-school-boys-keep-log-of-his-alleged-harassment/843375/” - #2022–09–11 A Rhode Island teacher is on leave after a group of middle-school boys who thought he was a ‘creep’ used a ‘pedo database’ to keep track of how he interacted with girls in their class “https://www.insider.com/teacher-on-leave-middle-school-boys-creep-pedo-database-girls–2022–9 ” - #2022–09–09 The middle school boys thought their teacher was a ‘creep.’ So they tracked how he treated the girls. “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/09/metro/middle-school-boys-thought-their-teacher-was-creep-so-they-tracked-how-he-treated-girls/” - #2022–07–27 What you need to know about North Kingstown High School Coach Aaron Thomas and the ‘fat test’ issue “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/30/metro/more-news-about-north-kingstown-high-school-coach-aaron-thomas/ ” - #2022–07–08 New allegations of ‘creepy’ behavior leveled against two North Kingstown coaches “https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/crime/2022/07/08/north-kingstown-school-coaches-accused-behavior-girls-uncomfortable/7831575001/” - #2022–06–13 Naked fat testing of NK basketball players was ‘open secret’. What a blistering report says “https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/13/aaron-thomas-scandal-judge-mcguirl-report-fat-testing-released-north-kingston-ri/7609644001/” - #2022–06–09 Independent Review of the North Kingston Fat Testing Controversy “https://www.northkingstown.org/DocumentCenter/View/5864/Judge-McGuirl-Report” - #2022–06–01 A second former student has sued North Kingstown schools over a coach’s ‘fat tests’ “https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/01/north-kingston-ri-basketball-coach-school-district-sued-student-fat-test/7469424001/” - #2022–05–16 Bill aims to criminalize sex between students and adults in ‘position of authority’ “https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/05/16/ri-bill-would-criminalize-sex-between-students-and-teachers-coaches/9793392002/” - #2022–04–30 North Kingstown superintendent places middle-school teacher on leave, orders investigation after stalking allegations “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/30/metro/north-kingstown-superintendent-places-middle-school-teacher-leave-orders-investigation-after-stalking-allegations/ ” - #2022–04–28 Another North Kingstown coach accused of inappropriate behavior with underage student “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/28/metro/another-north-kingstown-coach-accused-inappropriate-behavior-with-underage-student/ ” - #2022–04–20 Former student sues North Kingstown officials over Aaron Thomas ‘fat-testing’ scandal “https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022...

The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act Cybertraps 135 Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

News Item – On August 29, 2022, the California Senate unanimously passed the Age-Appropriate Design Act. It previously received unanimous approval in the State Assembly

It is currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature
People expect him to sign it but it could anger tech companies, who might then be less inclined to support a Newsom run for president in 2028
Earlier this summer, the legislature rejected a proposed bill called the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act
It “would have allowed the state attorney general and local prosecutors to sue social media companies for knowingly incorporating features into their products that addicted children.”
The California law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (see resources) has an excellent summary article regarding the Age-Appropriate Design Act
The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is modeled after the United Kingdom’s Age Appropriate Design Code, which went into effect in September 2021
If signed, it will be the first piece of U.S. legislation "that imposes a number of novel restrictions and data protection obligations on businesses providing services to users under the age of 18, including:
requirements to conduct a data protection impact assessment before any new services are offered,
configure all default privacy settings to a high level of privacy (unless there are compelling reasons to suggest it is otherwise in the best interests of children), and
provide an obvious signal to the child when they are being monitored or tracked by their parent, guardian or another consumer."
The bill prohibits businesses from:
profiling a child by default unless certain criteria are satisfied
using the personal information of any child in a way that is materially detrimental to their well-being and
using dark patterns to lead or encourage children to provide personal information beyond what is reasonably expected.
Motivations
Legislative and parental concern over impact of online services and products on children’s wellbeing
The desire to create safer online spaces for children
“The Act emphasizes that the best interests of the child should be taken into consideration by all businesses that develop and provide online services, products or features (“Services”) that children are likely to access and, in the event of a conflict between the businesses’ commercial interests and the best interests of children, the privacy and well-being of children must be prioritized.”
Key features of the Act:
- It’s very broad in its application. Applies to online products and services “(i) specifically directed at children and (ii) that are “likely to be accessed” by children.”
- Prior to any new Services being offered to the public which are likely to be accessed by children, the Act requires that the business complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment and maintain documentation of this assessment for as long as the Services are likely to be accessed by children.
- Default privacy settings must be high
- Business must provide clear, age-appropriate privacy information
- There must be an “obvious sign” that a business or service is tracking a child’s activity or geolocation
- Businesses are required to provide prominent and effective tools “to help children exercise their rights and report concerns.”
- Restrictions on the use of collected data, including:
- Cannot be used in any way that is “materially detrimental” to a child’s mental or physical health
- Profiling only under limited circumstances
- No use of “dark patterns,” i.e., design choices that trick a user into performing some unintended behavior
- Businesses are required to estimate the age of child users "with a ‘reasonable’ level of certainty
- The Act establishes the California Children’s Data Protection Working Group, aimed at developing best practices
- Penalties
- Negligent violations can result in civil penalties of up to $2,500 per affected child
- Penalties for Intentional violations are $7,500 per affected child
- Businesses in substantial compliance otherwise have 90 days to cure
- No private right of action
National Relevance
- As with so many other things, California is so large that the states rules and regulations have ripple effects around the country
Resources

- #2022–09–06 California Senate Approves Landmark California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act “https://www.akingump.com/en/news-insights/california-senate-approves-landmark-california-age-appropriate-design-code-act.html” - #2022–09–06 California lawmakers approve groundbreaking internet privacy law for kids “https://www.ijpr.org/media-society/2022–09–06/california-lawmakers-approve-groundbreaking-internet-privacy-law-for-kids” - #2022–09–01 Twit.tv Episode with Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, Stacey Higginbotham, and Ant Pruitt, with guest Mike Masnick “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvpjSoFiu-g” - #2022–08–25 Op-Ed: Regulate social media? California still has a plan for that “https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022–08–25/social-media-kids-safety-california” - #2021–06–30 The [UK] Age Appropriate Design Code: A quick, practical guide for games businesses “https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-age-appropriate-design-code-a-quick-practical-guide-for-games-businesses” - [n.d.] Introduction to the [UK] Age appropriate design code “https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/ico-codes-of-practice/age-appropriate-design-code/”

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IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

The Ethical Implications of Advertising to Gen-Z with Scott Rabinowitz Cybertraps 134 Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

In this episode we talk with Scott Rabinowitz about the ethical implications of advertising to GenZ.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

The Push to Ban Phones in Schools Accelerates Cybertraps 133 Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

News Item – The Boston Globe Publishes an Editorial Urging Schools to Prohibit Student Phone Use at School “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/”
Overarching Questions / Issues
This is a global issue
2022/2023 freshman are the iGen – born after introduction of iPhone in 2007 (!)
Is this part of a move to de-emphasize screens in education generally?
Will strict private schools scare away tech-savvy students?
Justifications
Distraction / Loss of Focus
- On average, kids unlock their phones 50 times each day
Impact on Grades
- Many educators report improved performance when access to devices is restricted
Post-Pandemic Need for Non-Phone Socialization
- Kids who engage more face-to-face are generally happier
Less spontaneity and real-world creativity
Teaching self-control should be part of school’s social-emotional curriculum
“I think great ideas come from boredom.” – John Kalapos, Buxton history teacher and tech committee chair
Methods
Complete on-campus bans – no smartphones at all
Partial bans – students allowed to use phones between classes and at lunch
Lockbags / Pouches
- In some schools, teachers and administrators have a tool for unlocking containers
- Other schools have unlocking magnets at each exit; kids tap the bag on the magnet as they leave
- Partnership with Yondr [ https://www.overyondr.com/ ]
- Originally founded in 2014 to limit use of phones in music venues
Cabinets (“Cellphone Hotels”) / Lockers / Hanging Shoe Organizers
Some schools permit “dumb” phones and the use of laptops to access the internet
- One private school is promoting the Light Phone [ https://www.thelightphone.com/ ]
Teachers encouraged to model good behavior by observing school bans
Objections and Concerns
Parents want to be able to contact their children
- In 2015, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio abandoned a policy against phones in schools
Kids are NOT enthusiastic
- Protests and fire alarms pulled at Torrington High School in Feb. 2022
Kids ignore school policies (as many as 2/3 disregard bans, according to a national survey)
Efforts to police bans may also be damaging to learning and student mental health
For some students, a phone may be their only technology
Concerns over security of devices during the day
Some teachers and school board members want to have schools incorporate phones (and especially social media) into curricula
Schools need to upgrade phone systems to make it possible for parents to reach children
Schools need a plan for digital withdrawal; phones, apps, and social media designed to be addictive
American Academy of Pediatrics dropped screen time limits for kids 5 and older because the impact of screen time varied based on the personality and circumstances of each kid
Resources

- #2022–08–22 Sorry, kids, no more phones in school “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” - #2022–08–21 Boston high school teacher wants city to implement smartphone ban “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/21/opinion/boston-high-school-teacher-wants-city-implement-smartphone-ban/” - #2022–08–18 “They don’t interact with each other.” The growing movement to ban phones in high schools. “https://www.mamamia.com.au/mobile-phone-ban-australia/” - #2022–08–15 Utah middle school bans phones from entire school day “https://kslnewsradio.com/1973508/utah-middle-school-bans-phones-from-entire-school-day/” - #2022–08–14 High school phone ban ‘more urgent than ever’ amid pressure on teens “https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-school-phone-ban-more-urgent-than-ever-amid-pressure-on-teens–20220809-p5b8dp.html” - #2022–08–13 Some Mass. high schools adopt strict cellphone-free policies this school year “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/13/metro/mass-high-schools-adopt-strict-cellphone-free-policies-this-school-year/ ” - #2022–07–16 A boarding school in the Berkshires is banning smartphones for students and teachers “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/16/business/boarding-school-berkshires-is-banning-smartphones-students-teachers/ ” - #2022–05–09 Chicopee High principal says cell phone locking has resulted in better student performance “https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/05/chicopee-high-principal-says-cell-phone-locking-has-resulted-in-better-student-performance.html” - #2022–02–25 Police respond as high school students protest phone policy “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/25/metro/police-respond-high-school-students-protest-phone-policy/ ” - #2018–06–01 How one local high school teacher got his students to actually put away their phones “https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2018/06/01/students-check-their-devices-cellphone-hotel/LuoA4LUJ807R0t5BsVnKTL/story.html ”

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

The Cybertraps of Choice: Pregnancy & Privacy in a Post-Roe World Episode 132 Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

- News Item -- On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. - The Court expressly overruled Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) - Each state is now able to adopt its own laws regarding the practice of abortion - Overview - An important reminder: Roe was a privacy case - The Court was trying to balance three separate constitutional principles - A woman's right to privacy - The State's interest in protecting the health of a pregnant person - The State's interest in protecting the life of a viable fetus - Roe was an extension of two earlier privacy cases: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which established a federal "right to privacy" with respect to a married woman's ability to obtain contraceptives from her doctor, and Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), which extended that same right to unmarried women. - How Might Cybertraps Arise? - Suspicious Circumstances - It is often difficult to tell the different between a spontaneous miscarriage and a self-medicated abortion - Approximately 30% of all pregnancies end in a spontaneous miscarriage - Criminal Investigations - Abortion is now banned in six states - Alabama - Arkansas - Mississippi - Missouri - Oklahoma - South Dakota - It is a crime to perform abortions and in most states, to "aid and abet" someone having an abortion - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not prevent a doctor or medical organization reporting personal health data if they think a crime has been committed - Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is very similar in this regard. - If someone reports that an abortion has occurred, local law enforcement or a local prosecutor could initiate a criminal investigation - Law enforcement can: - subpoena data from online account - conduct forensic exams of digital equipment - Civil litigation - A handful of states, led by Texas, have created systems that deputize enforcement to private citizens - Under that scheme, an individual located anywhere in the country can file a lawsuit alleging that another person performed an illegal abortion or aided and abetted a person in obtaining one - If the lawsuit is successful (by "a preponderance of the evidence"), the defendant can be ordered to pay a minimum of $10,000 as well as costs and attorneys fees - All of the usual civil litigation rules apply, including discovery of relevant evidence (apps, browser history, social media, cell phone records, etc.) - Risks for Educators - Social media posts that are contrary to state law - Requests for advice from students - What Data Is Collected? - Cybertraps for Expecting Moms & Dads - Erratic protection of personal data across the country - Communications - Email - Messaging - Health Care Data - Health Care Providers - Employers - Financial Records - Bank accounts - Credit cards - Online payment apps (Paypal, Stripe, etc.) - Browsers and Search Engines - Social Media - Selfie-incrimination - Tagging - Apps - Fertility - Health, General - Smartwatches - Can pinpoint the start of pregnancy from biometric information - Geolocation - Cellphone tower pings - Apps - Location tracking (Foursquare) - Geo-announcements (Twitter) - Location tracking by Google Maps, Waze, or iMaps - Governmental Tracking Tools - License plate readers - Biometrics - Other Looming Constitutional Issues - The Right to Travel - Some states are considering laws that would prohibit their citizens from traveling out-of-state for abortions - Criminal enforcement would be difficult (although surveillance tools are growing increasingly powerful) - Civil enforcement presents many fewer constitutional questions - Free Speech/Freedom of the Press - Some state legislators have also expressed interest in trying to prohibit web sites from publishing certain information about abortion (self-medication, availability of out-of-state services, etc.) within their states - As a practical matter, it's challenging to block such content (VPNs, TOR browers, etc.) - Such efforts would call into question the fundamental structure of the internet - Resources - #2022-07-20 Data privacy, abortion limits set to collide post-Roe [https://rollcall.com/2022/07/20/data-privacy-abortion-limits-set-to-collide-post-roe/](https://rollcall.com/2022/07/20/data-privacy-abortion-limits-set-to-collide-post-roe/) - #2022-07-13 In a Post-Roe World, the Future of Digital Privacy Looks Even Grimmer [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/technology/personaltech/abortion-privacy-roe-surveillance.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/technology/personaltech/abortion-privacy-roe-surveillance.html) - #2022-07-08 How to protect your privacy in a post-Roe America [https://mashable.com/article/how-to-protect-online-privacy-post-roe-abortion](https://mashable.com/article/how-to-protect-online-privacy-post-roe-abortion) - #2022-07-08 Protecting digital privacy post-Roe [https://whyy.org/episodes/protecting-digital-privacy-post-roe/](https://whyy.org/episodes/protecting-digital-privacy-post-roe/) - #2022-07-06 How online searches and texts can put you at risk in a post-Roe world, and how to protect yourself - #2022-07-02 Data privacy concerns make the post-Roe era uncharted territory [https://www.npr.org/2022/07/02/1109565803/data-privacy-abortion-roe-apps](https://www.npr.org/2022/07/02/1109565803/data-privacy-abortion-roe-apps) - #2022-06-30 Deleting Your Period Tracker Won’t Protect You [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/technology/period-tracker-privacy-abortion.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/technology/period-tracker-privacy-abortion.html) - #2022-06-29 The future of privacy rights in a post-Roe world [https://www.axios.com/2022/06/29/privacy-right-roe-v-wade-dobbs-v-jackson-online-data](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/29/privacy-right-roe-v-wade-dobbs-v-jackson-online-data) - #2022-06-28 Why some fear that big tech data could become a tool for abortion surveillance [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/why-some-fear-that-big-tech-data-could-become-a-tool-for-abortion-surveillance](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/why-some-fear-that-big-tech-data-could-become-a-tool-for-abortion-surveillance) - #2022-06-27 The Biggest Privacy Risks in Post-Roe America [https://www.theverge.com/23185081/abortion-data-privacy-roe-v-wade-dobbs-surveillance-period-tracking](https://www.theverge.com/23185081/abortion-data-privacy-roe-v-wade-dobbs-surveillance-period-tracking) - #2022-06-24 What police could find out about your illegal abortion [https://www.vox.com/recode/23059057/privacy-abortion-phone-data-roe](https://www.vox.com/recode/23059057/privacy-abortion-phone-data-roe)

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Child Identity Theft with Axton Betz-Hamilton Cybertraps 131 Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Axton Betz-Hamilton was a victim of identity theft and wrote a book about the experience called “The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity.”

Dr. Betz-Hamilton is now a professor at South Dakota State University specializing in identity theft.

Isolated and moved around because of identity theft of her parents
Axton was over half a million dollars in debt.
Only found out the identity of the thief after her mom died.
Parents can freeze credit reports
Parents should check all three credit reports for each child.
Experian
Transunion
Equifax
If you’ve been a victim of Identity theft:
File a police report
Freeze your credit
Get a counselor.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance.

Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Learn more about Renaissance:

Cybertraps: Educator Vacation and Beach Photos Cybertraps 130 Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

The Saga of Ashley Payne (2011)
After her first year of teaching, Payne went on a trip to Europe. When she returned, she created a Facebook album with several hundred vacation photos. A handful showed her enjoying a drink or two.
The photo album was marked “private,” but could still be viewed by her Facebook “friends” (which did not include any students)
She also mentioned on Facebook that she was heading out to play a game called “Crazy Bitch Bingo” at a local club
One her vacation photos and the club post were printed out and sent anonymously to Payne’s principal
On February 6, 2011, I appeared on CBS News “Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood” to discuss internet privacy; Ashley Payne was also interviewed. “https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C3165557”
The Questions
Can educators post photos of themselves on vacation on social media?
- Yes, but …
- Teachers are generally (and sometimes legally, as in Canada) held to a higher standard of conduct online
- Persistent double standard – female teachers more closely scrutinized and more harshly judged
- “Personal time” is often not “private”
Challenging Definitions
- “racy photos”
- “scantily clad”
- “indecent”
- “risque”
Legal Issues
- First Amendment
- Decency / Obscenity
- District / School Policies
What are the potential risks?
- Aggressive searches by curious students
- Loss of privacy (i.e., control over what is shared)
- Oversharing by friends or family
- Posts by second employers (modeling agencies, fishing charters)
- Unflattering posts by a friend or a complete stranger
- Public criticism / parental trolling
- Harassment
- Adverse job actions
- Theft
What can teachers do to protect themselves?
- Clean up social media channels before applying for jobs
- Review privacy settings
- Reflect on the true meaning of “friendship”
- Create a “Custom List” of Facebook or Instagram friends
- Share albums directly with trusted friends in Google Photos or Apple iCloud
- Selfie-searches
- Third-party scrubbers (but beware of scams)
- Hashtag Advocacy
- Russian teachers protested the firing of a Siberian teacher after she shared a photo of herself in a bikini, getting ready for “cold swimming”
- Legal counsel for adverse labor actions
Resources

- #2022–04–19 What the Tech: Facebook vacation photos “https://www.texomashomepage.com/what-the-tech/what-the-tech-facebook-vacation-photos/” - #2021–03–09 L.A. Teachers Union Facebook Group Warns Educators Not to Post Vacations Online Due to Bad Optics “https://www.newsweek.com/l-teachers-union-facebook-group-warns-educators-not-post-vacations-online-due-bad-optics–1574828” - #2019–04–02 Teachers turn on bikini power online to support colleague “https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/6/125367/Teachers-turn-on-bikini-power-online-to-support-colleague” - #2018–06–14 Teacher are humans, too! Siberian tutors in bikini protest flashmob to support a colleague “https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/teacher-are-humans-too-siberian-tutors-in-bikini-protest-flashmob-to-support-a-colleague/” - #2018–06–10 Teacher fired in Omsk after posing in swimsuit as plus size model “https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/teacher-fired-in-omsk-after-posing-in-swimsuit-as-plus-size-model/” - #2016–11–28 Should teachers be banned from posting ‘scantily clad’ photos? Ottawa board seems to think so “https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/should-teachers-be-banned-from-posting-beach-photos-on-facebook-ottawa-board-seems-to-think-so” - #2016–11–28 Ottawa’s Public School Board Wants to Ban Teachers From Posting Beach Photos “https://www.vice.com/en/article/yvejwm/ottawas-public-school-board-wants-to-ban-teachers-from-posting-beach-photos” - #2016–04–10 Primary school teacher is sacked after video of her twerking in a bikini in Mexico sweeps the web and is spotted by outraged parents “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–3532399/Primary-school-teacher-sacked-video-twerking-bikini-Mexico-sweeps-web-spotted-outraged-parents.html” - #2016–11–27 Teachers on Facebook: Is posting that beach bikini shot going too far? “https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/teachers-on-facebook-is-posting-that-beach-bikini-shot-going-too-far” - #2015–10–22 Utah teacher wins battle with school over her ‘inappropriate’ Instagram account “https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/utah-teacher-wins-battle-school-instagram-account-article–1.2407944” - #2015–02–10 Teachers tripped up by Facebook rants and bikini pics “https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/10/teachers-tripped-up-by-facebook-rants-and-bikini-pics ” - #2013–11–09 Too Sexy to Teach! H.S. Teacher Fired Over Bikini Pics “https://cw39.com/cw39/online-dish-too-sexy-to-teach-h-s-teacher-fired-over-bikini-pics/” - #2013–11–05 Idaho high school basketball coach Laraine Cook fired after posting Facebook photo of boyfriend grabbing breast “https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/idaho-hs-coach-canned-breast-grabbing-facebook-photo-boyfriend-escapes-firing-article–1.1507889” - #2012–04–10 Should Teachers Be Disciplined For Online Lives? “https://www.npr.org/2012/04/10/150361223/should-teachers-be-disciplined-for-online-lives” - #2011–10–11 Judge Rules Against Teacher Who Says She Was Fired Over Facebook Photos “https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_rules_against_teacher_who_says_she_was_fired_over_facebook_photos” - #2011–02–08 Teacher Fired for Drinking on Facebook Isn’t the Real Problem “https://cafemom.com/parenting/115957-teacher_fired_for_drinking_on” - #2011–02–06 Did the Internet Kill Privacy? “https://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-the-internet-kill-privacy/” - #2008–04–30 Teacher Moonlighting as Bikini Mate Cut Loose “https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4756166&page=1”

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Social Media Monitoring: Can It Prevent School Shootings? Cybertraps 129 Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

Show notes - The Uvalde School Shooting -- A Trove of Social Media Content - Gunman posted ominous photos of rifles and other messages on Instagram - He privately messaged a young woman that he planned to attack an elementary school - He used Yubo to threaten school shootings and show off a rifle - Context - Social media is one element of a complex problem - Uvalde already used security tech, including: - Raptor Technologies, for monitoring visitors - Social Sentinel, for identifying social media threats - Challenges posed by new, less-easily monitored online channels - Increased use of end-to-end encryption even on more well-established sites, like WhatsApp, Apple Messenger, Signal, etc. Facebook wants to make E2E encryption the default for Instagram and Facebook Messenger as well. Law enforcement is opposed. - FaceTime - Yubo - Snapchat - Instagram direct messaging - Discord - Twitch - "They are fundamentally designed to keep communications private, presenting different challenges than Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, where violent screeds and videos have been algorithmically amplified to millions of viewers." - "The way that generation uses social media more generally could render years of work to spot and identify public signs of upcoming violence obsolete, social media experts warn." - Responses - Culture of cybersafety - Department of Justice School Violence Prevention Program may provide funding [https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-invests-more-87-million-grants-address-school-violence](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-invests-more-87-million-grants-address-school-violence) - Increased interest in social media surveillance products - No solid evidence that they work - May have built-in racial biases in algorithms - Helps to create a culture of surveillance - Conditions children that surveillance is the norm - Creates conditions (cameras, metal detectors, full-time police presence) that can make school feel like a prison - Surveillance technology more commonly used to punish minor infractions - Use of AI and algorithm-driven products - Facial recognition - Gun detection systems (scans of security camera footage) - Pandemic has driven surveillance in effort to keep kids masked and socially-distanced - Researchers argue that surveillance measures lower student performance - Resources - Dr. Glenn Lipson - #2022-06-02 The problem with schools turning to surveillance after mass shootings [https://www.vox.com/recode/23150863/school-surveillance-mass-shooting-texas-uvalde](https://www.vox.com/recode/23150863/school-surveillance-mass-shooting-texas-uvalde) - #2022-05-28 Chilling new footage shows Texas gunman Salvador Ramos during shirtless video call with 15-year-old German girl on social media app Yubo - days before he told her about his school massacre plans [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10862893/Uvalde-gunman-threatened-rapes-school-shootings-social-media-app-Yubo-weeks-massacre.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10862893/Uvalde-gunman-threatened-rapes-school-shootings-social-media-app-Yubo-weeks-massacre.html) - #2022-05-28 Texas gunman had threatened school shootings on social media, reports say [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/28/texas-gunman-threats-behavior](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/28/texas-gunman-threats-behavior) - #2022-05-27 The Gunman in Uvalde Left Multiple Hints Before His Attack Began [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/us/uvalde-gunman-social-media.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/us/uvalde-gunman-social-media.html) - #2022-05-26 As young gunmen turn toward new social networks, old safeguards fail [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/26/shooters-social-media/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/26/shooters-social-media/) - #2022-05-22 NYC Mayor Eric Adams slams social media after Texas school shooting [https://nypost.com/2022/05/25/eric-adams-slams-social-media-after-texas-school-shooting/](https://nypost.com/2022/05/25/eric-adams-slams-social-media-after-texas-school-shooting/) SEO Keyword Question someone would ask where this would be the answer Blog Post (

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When You’re Curious You’re Learning with Gregg Behr Cybertraps 128 May 31, 2022

Show notes

whenyouwonder.org
1–4–3 day in PA - 143rd day in the year.
Get their book “When You Wonder, You’re Learning”
Origin story - Gregg and philanthropy Grable Foundation
Translating learning from the learning sciences
sound like script writers in Fred Rogers.
Remake learning network - Learning landscape.
Rogers took the tech of his day and asked how can I make this good
Fred Rogers wanted to use the technology of his day to minister to kids.
Eric Erickson - identity development
How can people do things like what Fred was doing in his time?
How do I make what is attractive to kids good and constructive?
So many people who can and should carry the work of Fred forward. We’ve got to lift those examples up.
Go to church, go to a concert, go to a sporting event, go to school
The agony of creation.
Everything Fred was doing clearly had a purpose.
Fred bridged theory and practice in a powerful way.
Curiosity, collaboration, creativity
Parables of Peanuts
Whole child plus learning sciences equals = The Fred Method

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Preventing Educator Abuse of Children with Dr. Charol Shakeshaft Cybertraps 127 May 25, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Charol Shakeshaft is a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies educator sex abuse towards students prevalence and prevention.

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How much abuse of kids is happening and has it gotten better?
Why has there been so much scandal around the catholic church and so little around
The power of grooming students, colleagues, parents, etc.
Uninterrupted and unobserved time with students.
Much still occurs in the school fact to face.
We don’t know how much this is happening, nor do we know whether it is increasing or decreasing.
UAWW data surprisingly showed that students had been touched inappropriately by adults, when the study was looking for peer interactions.
10% of kids
People don’t want to fund research in this area.
Why the discrepancy between the catholic church and schools doing this.
Predominant genders involved
Districts are very closed when these things happen and don’t allow much to be said.
Organizational decisions that get made about
Structural issue rather than an individual issue.
Challenges of a school system: not judging a colleague, closed rooms, nobody
Did you see the signs? Why didn’t you say anything?
The culture is such that they don’t feel safe saying something.
SESAME Organization
133 superintendents - Too much passing the trash. We took care of the problem so “our” kids would be safe.
By not saying anything, we are giving people permission to expand a predicliction
Schools don’t just allow this to happen, schools help people find this in themselves.
“It must be OK” if adults aren’t calling it out.
Pay attention to how a student reports. Kids don’t say it straight up.
Think of addictions, and what sets people up for doing that addiction.
Start out being lonely and then it leads to another thing.
Prevention - look at the organization - Policies (do they follow them?), training (not just mandatory reporting), hiring practices (not calling references),
Presidium training

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