Local officials told KLBK and EverythingLubbock.com that the dangers of social media are increasing in local schools and what parents can do to help.
“A lot of people think Lubbock is immune to the big city problems and we’re not,” Voice of Hope Community Educator Leslie Timmons said. “So we have all the same issues that the big city has and we have to address those issues, they’re not going to go away. And we’re seeing it every time a case comes out in our local community that we have the same issues and we have to deal with those issues.”
Voice of Hope is a rape crisis center that offers free lectures to private groups or school settings to educate them on the dangers of social media.
“The goal is to educate kids on the consequences of not only law enforcement but the social consequences because the consequences are many and they effect their lives in many different ways,” Timmons said.
Texas laws state a minor could face criminal court for crimes committed on social media, like “sexting.”
“If the image is of a minor, somebody under the age of 17, that can constitute as the distribution of pornography and that’s a very serious crime,” Timmons said. “Especially if the person sending it is 17 or older, in the eyes of the law you’re an adult.”
Senate Bill 407 requires every Texas school to provide some form of a “sexting” prevention program each year.
Lubbock ISD said they provide digital programs to teach educators on the effects of social media to then share with teachers, students, and parents.
“We try to do a lot of training with our teachers so that they can teach our teachers about predators on the internet as well as sexting,” LISD’s Coordinator of Digital Learning Sherry Mitchell said.
Both Mitchell and Timmons recommend parents monitoring their child’s smartphone at home.
“Learn how to use those different apps, learn how to use their smartphones, their passwords, know what apps they have on their phone. Educate yourself on social media,” Timmons said.
Voice of Hope said they can schedule a lecture or meeting via phone call at 806-763-7273.
Find more information about the different digital learning programs offered through LISD here.
