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SOCIAL NETWORKING SAFETY
Several years ago, “social networking” was not even a recognized phrase and probably would have conjured up ideas such as going out dancing, to a party, or out to dinner. Today, our “electronic” lifestyle of talking with friends and family through social networking sites, email, texting and other electronic means has impacted how we interact and ultimately, how we protect ourselves from becoming victims of crimes.
Most social networking sites have solid safety components in place, but you will have a responsibility for online safety. Your responsibility includes realizing that not everyone is your friend. While you may be able to control access to your online space, you never know when that “friend” will no longer be a friend. Or someone you thought was okay turns out to be a problem. The fact is anything you put on your networking space COULD be vulnerable to distribution, intentionally or unintentionally.
Here are some safety tips for social networking site users, as well as parents and guardians who are monitoring their use by younger family members:
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Check the network’s privacy settings and be sure you understand them and know what the security limitations are.
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Select passwords that are hard for others to figure out. Passwords are intended to be secret, even giving it to a close friend can put you at risk.
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A photo with your child’s school jersey or logo is a giveaway as to where they attend school. Make sure none of the photos on the site will tip off the wrong person as to where the child goes to school.
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Friend’s aren’t always as cautious with someone else’s information. Placing something comprising in the form of photos or information on your social networking page could be innocently copied by a friend who sends it to another friend and it begins to circulate on the internet.
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Provide as little identifying information was possible on the site. Your friend’s and your children’s friends know who you are, so there is no need to provide an abundance of personal information.
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Be careful of posting dates and times of where you or your child will be. If the wrong person gets the information it could put the subscriber or their property in an unsafe situation.
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Meeting online can be a lot safer than meeting in the real world. Use extreme caution when meeting someone in person whom you have met online. For parents it’s important to have a very specific conversation with your teenagers about the dangers of meeting someone in person, but it’s also a warning flag for adults. If a decision has been made to meet someone, pick a place that’s public and consider taking someone else with you or let someone know where you are going to be.
To learn more about staying safe online you can visit the following website: Connect Safely at www.connectsafely.org; Get Net Wise at www.getnetwise.org; and Stay Safe at www.staysafe.org or contact your local Crime Prevention Office.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Waste Management Phoenix Open - January 30th through February 5th, 2012. Gates open at 7 a.m.; Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, 17020 N. Hayden Road. General Admission: $25 (see website for more information) The Waste Management Phoenix Open takes place January 30 through February 5, at the beautiful Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale. Find out why this tournament boasts the largest galleries in golf and has earned the nickname "The Greatest Show on Grass." For more information visit: http://wastemanagementphoenixopen.com or call (602) 870-0163.
Parada del Sol Parade - February 11th, 2012. Take part in a Scottsdale tradition on Saturday, Feb. 11, when the Parada del Sol Parade unfolds along Scottsdale Road between Oak Street and Indian School Road. This “world’s largest horsedrawn parade” starts at 10 a.m. and features floats, horses, bands and tons of cowboy fun! More fun follows the parade in Old Town Scottsdale with the Trails End Celebration – dancing, entertainment and kids’ activities. Remember, Scottsdale Road, from Camelback to McDowell roads, will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more Parada activity details – including the Hashknife Pony Express arrival in town and the Rodeo – call the Jaycees at (480) 990-3179 or visit: http://paradadelsol.us.
57th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show - February 16-26, 2012 Time: 8:00AM-7:00PM Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale 16601 North Pima Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Over 2,300 Arabian and Half-Arabian horses are entered in hundreds of different classes during the course of the 11-day event. With their distinctive head shape, and high-tail carriage, these breathtaking representatives of one of the world's oldest breeds are available for viewing in their beautifully decorated barns, and visitors are most welcome! Top owners, trainers, and breeders from around the world compete annually in Scottsdale. When not watching the competition, visit the shopping expo which offers hundreds of trade booths, including jewelry, art, clothing, show apparel, decorative items, gifts, and equine equipment. Large food courts catering to every taste. For more information visit: http://www.scottsdaleshow.com.
Document Shredding– Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the McKellips District parking lot located at 7601 E. McKellips Rd. Donations of $2 per box of shredding will be collected. Please contact Officer Jen Wattier at 480-312-0275 for more information. Flier
Public Safety Community Contact Numbers and E-mail Links
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Scottsdale Police Non-Emergency 480-312-5000
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Scottsdale Fire Department 480-312-8000
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SPD Drug Enforcement Hotline - Suspected illegal activity, 480-312-TIPS (Hot lines are not monitored)
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SPD Traffic Enforcement Hotline - chronic traffic problems, 480-312-CARS
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Code Enforcement 480-312-2546
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Child Safety Seat Installation 480-312-BABY
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CPR/First Aid Classes 480-312-1817
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Lockbox for Seniors Program 877-229-5042 Flier
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 From the Desk of Commander Johnny Cervantes
Unfortunately, bullying now goes beyond the school playground, classroom, the park or neighborhood. It’s now found in cyberspace as well.
In the past, some kids who felt the need to bully were kept in check or discouraged from doing so because of fear of facing the person they wanted to intimidate. When they did treat a classmate poorly or intimidate them at school, many times they were caught by a teacher either through observation of their actions or a child reporting the act. This immediate report and response is certainly a deterrent while on school grounds. However, the cyber world has opened an entirely new and seemingly “easy to get away with” opportunity for bullies.
Some young people may become overly energetic in sharing their opinions about others while online because there isn’t that feeling of consequences as when you are talking to a person face-to-face. They may also feel protected because of the anonymity of certain aspects of on-line activity and feel that no one will know who authored the threatening comments.
Content and tone in an email is important and sometimes young people don’t realize how using certain words can make things sound a lot worse than it appears on the computer screen. While it’s impossible to always know how others will interpret what has been said in an email, a good safety measure is to read it out loud before sending and then ask the question, “If someone said that to my face, how would I take it?” or “Would I say this to someone’s face?” if not, then it not appropriate for saying online.
Email is certainly not the only route for bullies to make their opinions known or to intimidate another student. Blogs, social networking and even personal websites can become havens or inappropriate comments. As a parent or guardian, it’s our responsibility to do all that we can to observe and review what our children are doing online. It’s also our responsibility to talk with them about the consequences of cyber bullying and how it affects the victims and can have long term, even legal ramifications against the perpetrator.
Take a few moments to remind your children that online is not a place to solve disagreements and if someone is threatening or mistreating them, they need to report it to a trusted adult. Likewise using threatening language over the internet can be very painful to the recipient and may even be illegal.
If your child has received threatening emails or viewed information threatening them or others it’s important to notify law enforcement as well as their school. The school and law enforcement can then decide the best course of action in dealing with the cyber bully.
Parent Tip – Place the family computer in a location in the house where it is very visible and use software to monitor emails and web activity of your child. A child with a computer in a closed and private room can invite inappropriate use.
Resources
602-248-Teen (24 hr anonymous hotline)
www.stopbullying.gov
www.bullystoppers.com
Commander Johnny Cervantes
(480) 312-2567
jcervantes@scottsdaleaz.gov
TEXTING TO SEXTING
As much as times have changed, they are in many ways the same, just with a new twist thanks to technology. Texting has become the phone conversation of the 21st century. Texting allows users to communicate without the obvious inappropriateness of talking on the phone at inopportune times. However, it can encourage behavior and/or comments that may not be acceptable in a typical voice-to-voice conversation or in a public venue. An electronic message can feel more private and more protective, yet the reality is that message or image can go “worldwide” it if falls into the wrong hands.
For young people, they may feel they are just “being kids” and want to impress another with a revealing picture of themselves or maybe some comments that they wouldn’t dare say on the phone or in person. The reality is that it’s just like saying it on the phone or walking up to person and handing them a picture. Worse yet, within moments a picture or text can instantly be forwarded to others and become a community-wide topic of discussion.
Helping young people understand the implications of their actions may help them think twice before acting. They can at times trust in another that certain images or texts won’t be shared, but the reality is that all it takes is a disruption in a friendship or a betrayal from a trusted friend that will allow their secrets to be exposed. An inappropriate or illegal image posted on the web can impact someone’s future from college to career. Understanding that nothing texted is secret is an important lesson to learn.
The Scottsdale Police Department
Wants You!
The Scottsdale Police Department has excellent job opportunities in the following fields:
Police Officer, Police Aide, Communications, Detention Officers, Crime Lab, Records, and
Crime Scene Specialists.
Visit our website at
www.Scottsdalepd.com
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