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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan Launches County-Wide Cyber Protection Program for Teens

Posted on: December 20, 2013 - 3:35pm

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and experts from the office’s Cyber Protection Unit are bringing an Internet safety program to middle and high school students across the county in order to address growing concerns of online privacy, sexting and cyber bullying.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and its non-profit partner, Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. have launched “Navigating the Cyber World,” an Internet safety presentation for middle school and high school students in Middlesex County. 

“Teens more than anyone else rely on their mobile devices and social media to connect with their friends,” said District Attorney Ryan. “While it is wonderful that we communicate with our friends and family online, we have to remember to do so carefully. This program is about empowering youth to take control over their online persona and make good choices.”

The program was presented last week at Malden High School for more than 450 members of the freshmen class. Students in Ayer, Groton-Dunstable, and Shirley have already benefited from the progam and upcoming events are planned for schools in Arlington, Everett, Lowell, North Reading, and Tyngsboro.

A 2012 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey of almost 25,000 students in 26 high schools found that cyber bullying has been steadily on the rise since 2006. In 2012, more than 21 percent of students report being bullied online.

Teens are urged to “think before you post.”   

“The message we want to convey to teens is that if you wouldn’t share it at your dinner table, you shouldn’t put it online,” District Attorney Ryan said. “All of these images, messages, tweets that are posted will stay on the Internet.”

In addition to cyber bullying, the program discusses the dangers of sexting.  Sextinginvolves sending a nude or semi-nude photo electronically. While the initial messages or images are often intended to be private, they are easily shared, sent and forwarded to others. Such images can spread quickly across a school community resulting in a humiliating situation for the party involved, and, in some cases, in an offense that can be criminally prosecuted as dissemination of child pornography.

The cyber safety program will educate students on how stay safe online, including avoiding scams, being mindful of fake personas and profiles online, and reminding teens to never arrange to meet someone they do not know.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. have developed an informational brochure, Technology Tips for Parents, which is available online and in many schools. MPY offers in-service training programs for school staff on cyber safety.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office also provides the following safety tips:

Online Safety Tips for students:

  • Do not share personal information on social media sites, including your address, birthday or phone number
  • Never share your passwords
  • Do not post or send nude or semi nude photos
  • Never arrange to meet someone you met online
  • Do not click on links or download files from someone you do not know

Online Safety Tips for parents:

  • Talk to your children about their use of the Internet and social media to set guideline and determine what is appropriate use
  • Make Internet use a family activity by keeping computers and iPads in a central location in the home
  • Keep cell phone and chargers out of child’s bedroom at night to discourage late-night texting
  • Remind your children that people they talk to online are strangers and may not be who they claim to be
  • Let your child know it is OK to come to you if he or she is uncomfortable with something that took place on the Internet

Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 towns and cities and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office prosecutes more than 35,000 cases a year in nineteen superior, district and juvenile courts and has offices throughout the county, including in Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.