This document analyzes online discussions related to youth internet safety, dangers, and cyberbullying as well as educational programs addressing these topics. It finds that while there is chatter about the need for internet safety education, discussions do not often mention existing programs. Specifically, the document reports that it identified over 2000 posts discussing youth internet issues but only 235 posts about educational programs. It concludes there is a disconnect between programs educating youth online and discussions of the need for such education, and that programs could better utilize social media to reach audiences.

1. Safety on the Internet: Analysis of Online Chatter and Educational Programs Rachel A. Sitarz

2. 1in 7 youth, received sexual solicitation (NCMEC ) 71% of youth received a message on SNS from someone they do not know offline (NCMEC ) 80-83% report some form of sexual harassment online (Ybarra, Espelage & Mitchell, 2007) Victimization

3. 80% of youth on SNS’s, utilize them daily (Lenhart, et al., 2010) 14% had actually met someone that they only knew through the Internet (Lenhart, et al., 2010) Contributes to vulnerabilities Relevance

4. Can lead to serious mental health problems later in life problematic behavior, delinquency, low commitment to school work, substance usage, poor parental involvement, depression, low self esteem and suicidal ideation (Fleming, et al., 2006; Ybarra, Espelage & Mitchell, 2007) Relevance continued...

5. The purpose of the current research project was to examine the amount of talk, or chatter, there was on the topic of Internet safety, dangers and cyber bullying messages, in regards to youth Statement of Purpose

6. How much chatter is there on the Internet, regarding youth’s Internet safety, Internet dangers and cyber bullying? How much chatter is there on the Internet, regarding the various programs available to educate others about the topics of Internet safety, Internet dangers and cyber bullying? Research Questions

7. 2079 posts on the three topics Safety: “how-to’s” Dangers: privacy and security Majority were blogs for all 3 categories Data

8. 235 posts made Peak: 14-16 by GetNetWise Most were blogs Data continued....

10. Importance Disconnect between programs and chatter More people talking about “need” to educate, but not the programs that are educating Programs aren’t utilizing social media

11. Contributes to the Internet Crimes Against Children field Understanding of educational programs NCMEC Researchers of ICAC Contributions/who should care?

12. QUESTIONS???