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We had the privilege of having Margaret Ochoa, with the Colorado Safety Resource Center, speak to our 4th – 12th grade students regarding technology safety. She focused on gaming and social media. Mrs. Ochoa is an attorney and was a prosecutor in Jefferson County. She explained the juvenile sexting law and also encouraged students to be cautious about oversharing personal information on social media. Here are some helpful tips for students from the Cyberbullying Research Center.

1. Assume that EVERYONE has access to your profile. Be cautious with what you are sharing. Scholarships, colleges and future employers are looking at your social media content to learn more about you.

2. Use DISCRETION when putting pictures or other content on your profile. Think about what your content says about you. Remember if you are not paying for the app, then YOU are the product being sold. Your content is owned by the social media corporation and can be sold to other corporations.

3. Assume people WILL use the information on your profile to harm you. Be careful with whom you choose to share your location with.

4. Assume there are predators out there trying to FIND YOU based on the information you are providing. Be careful with whom you choose to share your location with.

5. You may be held responsible for inappropriate content on your profile. The juvenile sexting law specifies that criminal culpability starts at age 10.