By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Although the Internet, social media and other digital devices can provide students with opportunities unavailable to past generations, those same things also carry with them an inherent risk of danger.
That’s the message the Otsego Middle School Student Support Services team has been trying to convey to the student body in recent weeks with a pair of programs.
One of those programs included representatives from the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force talking with each grade level separately.
Otsego Middle School principal Melissa Koenig said the middle school years are a vital time when it comes to teaching students about digital safety.
“Just like Red Ribbon Week—which informs students on the dangers of drug use—has become an annual event, so has our visit from MSP,” Koenig said. “For many of our students, sixth graders especially, it is their first time with a phone and the world is at their fingertips.
“Prior to the pandemic, we also hosted a parent evening with MSP as an awareness night as well. Oftentimes, they would bring victims and their families to share their stories. Everyone thinks this couldn’t possibly happen to our family. In reality, it can happen to any of us. It truly takes a village to keep all of our students safe.”
The representatives from MSP surveyed the students to see how many could potentially be faced with online predators and other dangers.
The majority of students have phones, making them susceptible to fake text messages; many students also game online, where strangers can try potentially prey on them; and many students have some form of social media and share pictures, which could lead to the unintended sharing of personal information.
“What happens today, can have consequences down the road,” Detective Sergeant Chris Prevette told the students.
Koenig said the main takeaway from the MSP presentation was an awareness of potential consequences and the dangers of communicating with someone they don’t know online or on social media.
Some other takeaways included:
- Don’t accept a friend request from someone you don’t know personally.
- When you send a picture to somebody, you lose control of it. Your friends can screenshot it and share it.
- What you’re doing now can impact your life. A digital profile lives on and can be found later in life when kids go to look for a job or apply to college.
- Be sure to tell an adult anytime something goes wrong, even if you’ve made a mistake.
- Don’t share inappropriate pictures, no matter how much you think you trust someone.
- Don’t click on a link that you’re not expecting to receive.
The MSP officers also discussed fake social media accounts that are created for the purpose of cyberbullying. Although those who create these accounts think they can hide their identity, the officers stated they can find out who the individuals are and criminal consequences are possible depending upon the activity.
Students were encouraged to make good decisions and ask themselves these questions: Would I treat someone this way in person? Would I say this to them in person with my grandma in the room?
OMS also held an assembly about OK2Say.
A student-safety program, OK2Say allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees and/or schools. During this assembly, students were also reminded of the rules and expectations of the middle school.
Koenig believes such assemblies are making an impact.
“Whenever we host events such as these, students tend to open up more and our offices tend to get even busier,” she said. “It shows us that students trust us and feel comfortable opening up knowing that we will help them. Sometimes they realize that they are in way over their heads.”
If a student needs to report any potentially harmful activity or anything else, they can go to any staff member, fill out the incident form online or fill out a report with OK2Say. Those forms can be found in the Quick Links at oms.otsegops.org.