Students learn about social media dangers from Charlottetown police

Junior high school students in Charlottetown are hearing about possible pitfalls of social media in a new program called Picture This hosted by Charlottetown Police Service officers.

'Kids are so connected now. The world is a much smaller place that it ever was'

CBC News Posted: Mar 21, 2019 6:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 21, 2019

Police officers and students at Stonepark Intermediate School in Charlottetown. (Charlottetown Police Services)

Junior high school students in Charlottetown are hearing about possible pitfalls of social media in a new program called Picture This hosted by Charlottetown Police Service officers.

The program is geared towardstudents in grades 7, 8 and 9and was created by school resource officers and the Public Schools Branch.

Sport P.E.I. applauds new federal initiatives that aim to protect athletes from abuse

'Be a buddy, not a bully': Island students participate in Pink Shirt Day

"The internet is written in pen so therefore once it's on there, it's very difficult to get down, the post to get down and it's there for everyone to see," said Const. Tim Keizer.

Is it something that you would post with your parents' permission? Const. Tim Keizer

He said policeare trying to reinforce the risks of what can happen with some of the students' posts.

Eight officers have visitedStonepark Intermediate School and BirchwoodIntermediateSchool, both in Charlotettetown,to give the presentation and discuss issues with students. They chose to present inindividual classrooms rather than at school-wide assemblies, to get more student involvement.

Bullying, negative comments

Keizer said students have been tellingofficers about their experiences with sharing photos online.

Const. Tim Keizer says some of the students shared their own stories of online bullying and posts that went further than intended. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)

Students talked about bullying and how easy it isto post negative comments, he said.

"It is amazing the amount of pressure that our young people are under to have positive feedback on the internet," Keizer said.

Theyalso discussedcyberbullyingand indecent pictures, which Keizer warned could involve legal consequences.

5 easy hacks and apps to keep your family safe online

P.E.I. teenagers' song battles cyberbullying

'Think about what you are posting'

"We just saidyou have to really think about what you are posting," Keizer said."Is it something that you would post with your parents' permission? ... Is it something that you would be ashamed of other people seeing?"

Close-up image of a hand scrolling on a cellphone — Charlottetown police officers have been going to local intermediate schools to talk with students about the dangers of cyberbullying and social media. (CBC)

The Picture This program is designed to raiseawareness and encouragestudents to think about who theycould talk to ifa post gets out of control.

Police planto also deliver the program to students at Queen Charlottetown Intermediate.Keizer said police willcontinue the outreach in schools in coming years.

"It's extremely important because kids are so connected now.The world is a much smaller place that it ever was," Keizer said.