A Practical Toolkit
for Educators
Expert insights and resources to enhance digital citizenshipand promote safer online practices for students.

Introduction
Our Commitment to Action: Encouraging Safe, Sound, andHealthy Digital Environments for Students
In today’s digital landscape, the intersection of social media and school safety isa critical concern for educators, administrators, parents, and law enforcement. To
explore these issues in depth, Safe and Sound Schools conducted roundtables
focused on the impact of social media on school environments. These sessions
brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of theSnap Inc. (“Snapchat”) team, district and school administrators, mental healthprofessionals, educators, and law enforcement officials. With representation froma range of district sizes, geographic locations, and both public and private school
settings, the insights shared provided a comprehensive understanding of thechallenges facing our school communities.

Here’s what we discovered:
While many concerns were rooted in or related to traditional social media, theyoften extended beyond it, reflecting broader issues prevalent in the digital
environment. In response, Safe and Sound Schools, Snapchat, and leading school
safety experts have joined forces to develop this comprehensive toolkit to help
schools and districts address the following question:

Q

How can we encourage safe,
sound and healthy digital
environments for students?

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2

Driven by our shared commitment to fostering secure and supportive school
environments, our goal is to equip educators with the knowledge and tools
necessary to promote the safety and well-being of students in digital spaces.
We hope you find this toolkit to be an invaluable resource for your schoolcommunity. Together, we can create a safer and more supportive digital
environment for students, better protecting every school, every student, every day.

Table of Contents
Snapchat: 4 Important Things to Know

1

What is Snapchat, Really?

2

What are the Main Features and Functionality of Snapchat?

3

Community Guidelines

4

Downloading Snapchat: “Know the Neighborhood”

4

Safe and Sound: Tips and Best Practices for
Educators

5

Promoting Digital Citizenship and Encouraging Safe Practices Online

7

Creating Foundational School Policy for Device and Social Media Usage

9

Addressing, Preventing, and Responding to Bullying and Cyberbullying

10

Promoting Upstander Behavior and Encouraging Reporting

12

Combating Sextortion and the Sharing of Nude or Sexually Explicit
Content

14

How to Talk to Students, Parents and Caregivers

18

Conversation Guide for Students

18

Conversation Guide for Parents and Caregivers

20

Conclusion

23

We want to extend a heartfelt
thank you to the educators,
multidisciplinary stakeholders,and dedicated school safetyadvocates who contributed tothe creation of this resource.
We appreciate everything you
and your colleagues do to keep
students and schools safe.
Keep up the amazing work!

Snapchat: 4 ImportantThings to Know
As part of our commitment to fostering a safe and healthy digital environment for
students, it’s essential to provide information on the platforms they frequently use.
Snapchat, in particular, has become popular with many young people. In fact, morethan 20 million teens in the U.S. use Snapchat, making it imperative that educators
be knowledgeable about the platform.
Understanding the basics of how Snapchat works can enable you to connect withstudents more effectively, promote responsible use, and guide them in maintaining
a responsible online presence.
Let’s dive in!
Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators

11. What is Snapchat, Really?
Snapchat is a communications service designed for people ages 13 and up. It’s
popular with teenagers and young adults, who primarily use it to talk with theirclose friends, one-on-one or in small groups.
Teens must be at least 13 years old to create a Snapchat account. If Snap
determines that an account belongs to a person under 13, they will terminate theaccount.

REPORTING FEATURES FOR EDUCATORS AND SROS
Educators and School Resource Officers (SROs) play a vital role in fosteringsafer online environments. If you become aware of students under the ageof 13 using Snapchat, please immediately report this to Snap. Here’s how:
Reporting Mechanism

Snapchat offers ways for anyone without a Snapchat account to report
an issue on behalf of themselves or others. If you or your students areexperiencing unwanted or potentially harmful contact, or conduct on
Snapchat, and would like to report it to Snapchat’s Safety teams, please doso here.
Reporting Options for SROs (Sworn Law Enforcement):y By email: lawenforcement@snapchat.com
y Via an account with Snapchat’s Law Enforcement Service System orEmergency Disclosure Response Formy Additional information relevant to law enforcement can be found in

the Snapchat Law Enforcement Guide

Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators

22. What are the Main Features and Functionality of
Snapchat?
Snapchat was purposely designed differently from traditional social media
platforms. Built to serve as a communications service, Snapchat doesn’t open
to – or even have – a public news feed powered by an algorithm with public likes
and comments. Instead, the app opens to a camera. Snapchat has five tabs thatencourage the quick type of communication, interaction, and sharing that havebecome hallmarks of the platform.
•

Camera: An easy, visual way to share what’s on your mind with the people
who matter most, create Snaps, play with Lenses and augmented reality
experiences, and more.

•

Chat: Chat is where you can talk to your friends and family using text andpictures. Snaps and Chats delete by default, mirroring real-life conversations
where what you say and do isn’t recorded forever and shared with strangers.
This helps people feel more comfortable expressing themselves, the same
way they would if they were hanging out in person.

•

Map: The map is an interactive way for Snapchatters to share their favorite
spots, discover new places, and see what their friends are up to – but only
if they choose to share their location. Location sharing is off by default, andSnapchatters can only share their location with people they’re friends with.
There is no option on the Map for Snapchatters to share their location withanyone they haven’t chosen to accept as a friend.

•

Stories: On the Stories tab, you can find collections of Snaps from yourfriends, as well as news stories from trusted publishers and verified creators.

•

Spotlight: On Spotlight, Snapchatters can submit and watch short, fun, andcreative videos.

Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators

33. Community Guidelines
Snapchat’s Community Guidelines are designed to help Snapchatters use theservice safely. These rules prohibit illegal and potentially harmful content andbehavior such as sexual exploitation, pornography, illicit drug activity, violence,
self-harm, and misinformation. Extra moderation is applied to public surfaces of
Snapchat – on Discover and Spotlight – to help prevent violative content fromspreading widely.
To enforce against violations of these Community Guidelines, Snapchat uses
proactive detection tools and reports from users, parents, and law enforcement.
Their 24/7 global Trust & Safety team is tasked with investigating these reports andtaking appropriate action, which can include warnings, content removal, accountbans, reporting to authorities, and escalation to law enforcement.
Educators and administrators can get in touch with Snap directly if they everencounter a problem. Educators can report concerning accounts or content onbehalf of their students here, or share feedback with Snap about how Snapchat isbeing utilized in their community here.

4. Downloading Snapchat: “Know the Neighborhood”
By downloading Snapchat for personal use,
educators can gain a deeper understandingof the digital neighborhood where many
students socialize. This firsthand insight
into current trends and behaviors canhelp educators stay informed and better
understand how students interact online.
Equipped with this knowledge, educators
can more effectively guide students in using
Snapchat responsibly, thereby fostering atrusting and supportive digital environment.

Scan the QR Code to
Download Snapchat Now!

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Safe and Sound: Tips
and Best Practices for
Educators
How to Help Foster Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital
Environments
Navigating the digital landscape can be challenging and requires a collaborative
approach to effectively manage the risks and pitfalls for students. This section isintended to provide practical and actionable guidance for educators on a rangeof foundational topics, including promoting good digital citizenship, encouraging
responsible digital practices, and developing school policies for device and social
media usage. It also addresses critical issues such as bullying, cyberbullying, mental
health, sextortion, and the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos.
Developed with insights from Safe and Sound Schools, recognized subject matter
experts, and school safety advocates, these tips and best practices aim to help you
foster a safer and healthier digital environment for your students.

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Meet the Experts

Michele Gay, M.Ed.
Co-founder and Executive Director,
Safe and Sound Schools

Theresa Campbell
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
Safer Schools Together

Jonathan Cristall, Esq.
Prosecuting Attorney, City of Los Angeles,
Certified Sexual Violence Prevention
Instructor, Digital Safety Advocate, andAuthor of What They Don’t Teach Teens

Colton Easton
Project and Training Manager / Social
Media Awareness Specialist, Safer Schools
TogetherAntoinette King, PSP, DPPS, SICC,
Founder, Credo Cyber Consulting LLC
and Author of The Digital Citizen’s Guide
to Cybersecurity: How to Stay Safe andEmpowered Online

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Promoting Digital Citizenship and Encouraging Safe
Practices Online
Addressing digital citizenship and safe online practices should start early andbe reinforced regularly. Students who may be too young for social media are still
exposed to the digital world through Chromebooks, iPads, and other connected
devices. It is essential for even our elementary school children to develop strong
digital citizenship skills and understand safe practices from the very beginning.
To support this, schools and districts can implement seminars, assemblies, andprovide access to curricula, as well as distribute resources for educators, parents
and caregivers. This includes conversation guides like the one included later in thistoolkit. When curating content for these initiatives, be sure to source materials fromtrusted organizations and subject matter experts, ensure they are age-appropriate,
as well as developmentally suitable, and provide foundational understanding of thefollowing:y

Red Flags and Bad Actors: Teach students to recognize potential dangers
online, whether from known individuals or strangers. This includes beingalert to unusual requests, pressure or threats, inconsistent behavior, privacy
violations, or situations that seem too good to be true. Encourage them toonly accept friend requests from people they know in real life, trust their
instincts, and seek help from a trusted adult if they encounter any of these
red flags.

yOnline Actions Have Real-Life Impacts: Help students understand that
their online actions can have lasting, real-world effects. Encourage them tobe mindful and intentional with the content they post and the information
they share, remembering that anything they do online can potentially remain
there indefinitely.

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“We often hear the term ‘digital footprint’. At Safer Schools Together(SST), we encourage schools to use the term ‘digital tattoo’ instead. It
better represents the permanence of the internet. Footprints disappear
but tattoos are ‘forever’. If not forever, trying to remove a tattoo is a long,difficult, and painful process with zero certainty that it will actually fully
disappear.”
THERESA CAMPBELL, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Safer Schools
Togethery

Why Reporting is Not ‘Tattling’ or ‘Snitching’: Empower students to reportsuspicious or harmful behavior without fear of being labeled as tattlers or
snitches. Promote and emphasize the concept of being an upstander rather
than a bystander. Reinforce that the phrase “see something, say something”
is about protecting everyone’s well-being, and that their voice can make asignificant difference.

We will explore these foundational, and often interrelated, topics in greater detailin the sections below, so be sure to keep reading! In the meantime, remember:consistently addressing good digital citizenship and safer online practices helps
young students develop healthy habits and boundaries as they mature, andsupports older students who may not have received guidance when first entering
the digital world.

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Creating Foundational School Policy for Device and Social
Media Usage
Schools should establish a strong, clear device usage and social media policy toencourage a safe and productive learning environment. This policy should outline
the school’s stance on device access during the school day and specify whether
inappropriate social media activity will result in disciplinary measures.
Additionally, Jonathan Cristall, Esq., often notes when speaking to educators that,generally speaking, according to the law, acts committed on a student’s personal
device during their own time may still violate school policy if it substantially disrupts
the school environment. Schools and districts may therefore, depending on theunique facts involved, be able to impose consequences for such behavior even if
the underlying digital acts did not take place during the school day or on a schoolowned device.
It is crucial for all faculty members to be knowledgeable on any established policy,
as well as on how to help students report inappropriate content or concerning
behavior on social media and the broader online environment. This comprehensive
approach helps create a supportive atmosphere with established next steps if thepolicy is breached.

“Comprehensive school safety planning must include considerations
for both the physical and digital space. School policies that clearly
outline a school’s or district’s stance on device and social media usage
are essential – not only for educators but also for students and theirparents. It’s only when everyone in the community understands what’s
acceptable, what’s not, and where and how to report concerns, that we
can keep our students and our schools safe and sound.”

MICHELE GAY, Co-founder and Executive Director, Safe and Sound Schools

Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators

9Addressing, Preventing, and Responding to Bullying andCyberbullying
Bullying and cyberbullying are top issues cited across school communities,
requiring strong collaborative efforts to address them. Educators, parents, andstudents all need education on these topics, as well as a clear understanding ofpolicies, reporting mechanisms, and consequences for related acts. Here are someconsiderations for implementing effective practices across stakeholder groups,
including preventative measures and response tactics:y

Policy Review and Implementation: Administrators and educators should
regularly review and update school and district policies on bullying andcyberbullying to ensure they are clear, comprehensive, and up to state
standards. This includes verifying that the school handbook provides detailed
definitions, reporting procedures, and support systems, and ensuring that all
school and district staff are well-informed and well-versed in these policies.

“Bullying and cyberbullying are not isolated incidents; they involve
repeated acts with malicious intent designed to harm someone. Thesebehaviors, whether in person or online, are closely connected. If a student
is being bullied online, there is a strong likelihood that it is also occurringin person. School communities must be prepared to address and respondto these issues in all forms.”
JONATHAN CRISTALL, ESQ., Prosecuting Attorney, City of Los Angeles,
Certified Sexual Violence Prevention Instructor, Digital Safety Advocate, andAuthor of ‘What They Don’t Teach Teens’

Safe, Sound and Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators

10yProvide Professional Development and Training: While each U.S. state
addresses these issues differently through established laws, policies, andregulations, it’s vital for administrators in every state to explore ongoingprofessional development for educators and staff members. This training
should include distinguishing between bullying behavior, peer conflict, andsimply mean acts to ensure a clear understanding and effective response.
Furthermore, because of the severity of these issues, and the correlation
between student mental health and other negative outcomes, additional
training on related topics such as suicide prevention and awareness is also
highly recommended.

BULLYING LAWS, POLICIES & REGULATIONS
For detailed information on state laws and regulations, we encourage
you to visit stopbullying.gov. This federal resource maintained by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services includes an interactive mapwith easy accessibility to anti-bullying laws and policies of specific states
and territories.

yParent and Caregiver Workshops & Resource Distribution: Schools anddistricts can organize workshops or seminars to help parents and caregivers
recognize and respond to signs of bullying and cyberbullying behaviors,
and understand how to support their children. These sessions should
offer practical advice and resources on recognizing bullying, reporting
mechanisms, and effective communication strategies to help parents
proactively engage in their children’s online safety and well-being.

yStudent Conversations & Resources: When discussing bullying andcyberbullying behaviors with students, it’s essential to provide clear
definitions to ensure they understand what it means to be a victim, how
to recognize related behaviors, and the impacts of that behavior. These
definitions include what constitutes bullying and cyberbullying, as well as
peer conflict and mean behavior, and the differences between. For additional
support on this need, please refer to the student conversation guideprovided later in this toolkit.

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Promoting Upstander Behavior and Encouraging
Reporting
Promoting upstander behavior involves empowering students to take action when
they witness inappropriate behavior, both online and in person. By fostering aculture of responsibility and support, schools can help students feel confident andknowledgeable about how to address, respond to, and report such behavior. Hereare a few ways to effectively promote upstander behavior:yDefine It: Teach students the difference between being an upstander and a
bystander—where an upstander actively intervenes to stop harmful behavior
and supports those affected, a bystander remains passive. Equip students
with practical strategies for addressing, responding to, and reporting
inappropriate behavior, including how to speak up, seek help, and use
available reporting tools.

yEducate on Safe and Confidential Reporting: Reassure students that they
will not face consequences for reporting concerns. Emphasize that reportingis a responsible action aimed at protecting everyone’s well-being. To further
alleviate concerns about retaliation or peer judgment, provide options foranonymous reporting.

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MANDATED REPORTERS
As part of this education on safe reporting, it’s important for students
to understand that, in most states*, teachers and other school staff aremandated reporters. While they are not responsible for investigating, they
are required to report any concerns related to child abuse or neglect to theappropriate authorities. For more information on your state’s statutes, please
visit the following resources from the Child Welfare Information Gateway
and the Children’s Bureau:•

State Statutes Search (Childwelfare.gov)•

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect: State Statutes (PDF,
May 2023)*All states except Indiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming.
Data current through May 2023 per the Child Welfare Information Gateway and theChildren’s Bureau Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect: State Statutes PDF.

y

Develop Student-Led Initiatives: Create opportunities for students tobecome ambassadors for positive behavior by forming peer support groups,
clubs, or advocacy teams focused on bullying prevention and support.
Organize assemblies, workshops, and campaigns led by students to promote
upstander behavior, leveraging their significant influence on each other.
Recognize that students often trust and feel more comfortable confiding intheir peers, so encourage peer support networks where they can seek advice
and share experiences. Additionally, highlight and celebrate students who
exemplify upstander behavior to inspire others and foster a culture of support
and accountability.

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Combating Sextortion and the Sharing of Nude or Sexually
Explicit Content
Sextortion and the distribution of nude or sexually explicit content pose serious
challenges both within and beyond school environments. These complex issues
involve the creation, sharing, and potential widespread dissemination of suchcontent. Effective response requires a comprehensive strategy that includes
preventive education, legal considerations, and robust support resources.
Depending on the circumstances, response may also involve assistance fromoutside agencies to support the targeted individuals.
“Preventive education is crucial, but it must be complemented byawareness of available resources and support. Importantly, we should
never blame young people for the breach of trust that often occurs inthese situations.”
JONATHAN CRISTALL, ESQ., Prosecuting Attorney, City of Los Angeles,
Certified Sexual Violence Prevention Instructor, Digital Safety Advocate, andAuthor of ‘What They Don’t Teach Teens’

Key Considerations for Combating Sextortion and the Sharing of
Explicit ContentyEducation and Awareness: Educate students about the risks associated with
sextortion and the importance of protecting their digital privacy. Provide clear
guidelines on the dangers of sharing intimate images and emphasize thateven in trusted relationships, trust can be broken, and situations can change.

yLegal and Ethical Considerations: Familiarize yourself with the legal
implications of sextortion and unauthorized sharing of explicit content.
Educate students on both sides of the situation – including legal
consequences for sharing this content without consent, receiving andpossessing it, as well as how to understand their rights and legal options
should they become a victim.

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ySupport and Resources: Ensure students know where to turn for help ifthey encounter sextortion or non-consensual sharing of explicit content.
Supportive resources, including counseling, trusted organizations that can
assist in removing such content, and options for legal representation, should
be readily accessible.

DOES A STUDENT NEED HELP TAKING SOMETHING
DOWN?
Take It Down is a free and anonymous service provided by the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It helps individuals
remove or stop the online sharing of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit
images or videos taken when they were under 18.
This resource is essential for educators, students, parents, and caregivers
to be aware of. Individuals who have experienced such a violation may notknow where to turn for help. Take It Down offers crucial support to address,
remove, and mitigate the impact of such content.

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Important Definitions to Know
As two of the most trusted child protection and anti-human trafficking
organizations, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and
Thorn work tirelessly to prevent and address the sexual exploitation of children.
Sourced from their library of valuable resources, these are important, establisheddefinitions for educators to know:yOnline Enticement: The NCMEC definition of online enticement
encompasses a broad category of sexual exploitation that includes sextortionand grooming and involves an individual communicating with someone
believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual
offense or abduction. It’s a type of victimization that takes place across every
digital platform and includes instances when a child is being groomed to takesexually explicit images and/or ultimately meet face-to-face with someone
for sexual purposes, or to engage in a sexual conversation online or, in someinstances, to sell/trade the child’s sexual images.

y

Sextortion: NCMEC defines sextortion as a form of child sexual exploitation
where children are threatened or blackmailed, most often with the possibilityof sharing with the public a nude or sexual images of them, by a person who
demands additional sexual content, sexual activity or money from the child.
Per Thorn, online sextortion can escalate more quickly than offline sextortion.
In instances stemming from an online-only relationship, threats often
begin swiftly – possibly on the day of the meeting – and can come in rapid
succession, often repeatedly throughout the day. In these instances, theperpetrator may use catfishing or other forms of deception to convince aminor to share intimate images.
When this type of exploitation is financially motivated, it is called financial
sextortion. In these instances, victims are coerced (blackmailed) into sending
money or other valuable resources to a predator in order to prevent themfrom sharing, or continuing to share, their explicit images online. Financial
sextortion has been on the rise in recent years and is known to follow an
extremely aggressive timeline, with predators often returning to victimize
targets again through additional demands.

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yOnline Grooming: Also included in the broad category of online enticement
is online grooming. Per Thorn, this is another term used broadly to describe
the tactics abusers deploy through the internet to sexually exploit children.
It can happen quickly or over time, but at its core it is a process of exploiting
trust to shift expectations of what safe behavior is and leveraging fear andshame to keep a child silent.

For more on these topics from the National Center for Missing and ExploitedChildren (NCMEC) and Thorn, take a look at these resources:yFinancial Sextortion “A Growing Crisis” (Patricia Davis, National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children, 2023)

yGrooming and Sextortion (Thorn, 2023)

yGrooming in the Digital Age (Brittany Perna, National Center for Missing &Exploited Children, 2023)

yOnline Grooming: What It Is, How It Happens, and How to Defend Children(Thorn, 2023)y

The Issues: Sextortion (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2024)

Bonus Material: Resources for Additional Tips and Best
Practices
We invite you to check out these additional resources from leading subject
matter experts and other trusted organizations:yCommon Sense EducationySafer Schools TogetheryDigital4GoodyyNational Center for Missing
and Exploited Children (Online
Enticement & Sextortion)

The Digital Citizen’s Guide to
CybersecurityyWhat They Don’t Teach Teens

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How to Talk to Students,
Parents and Caregivers
As you incorporate tips and best practices into your classroom and school
environment, it’s essential to engage in discussions with students, parents andcaregivers.
We understand these topics can sometimes feel overwhelming or uncomfortable.
By providing these conversation guides, we aim to support a collaborative effort
between educators, students, parents, and caregivers to create a safer and more
supportive digital environment.

Conversation Guide for Students
When talking with students about online behavior and safety, the level and depthof conversation will vary based on grade level, use of social media platforms, etc.
and should be modified appropriately. In any case, it’s crucial to start by creating a
supportive and open environment. Let them know that you are there to listen andsupport them without judgment.

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An easy place to start is to begin by discussing many of the topics
covered in this toolkit:yHow online actions can have real-life impacts: Explain how what they doonline can affect them and others in the real world.

y

The concept of a “digital tattoo” compared to a “digital footprint”:
Emphasize that while footprints may fade, tattoos are permanent or very
difficult and painful to remove, with no guarantee they will disappear
completely.

yAddress misconceptions around “snitching” or “tattling”: Encourage
students to view reporting as a responsible action aimed at ensuring
everyone’s safety, rather than a negative act. If concerns about retaliation or
judgment persist, offer options for anonymous reporting to help alleviatethese fears.

yShare practical tips and best practices: Provide students with actionableadvice and introduce additional resources to help them stay safe andinformed.

By using these points as a foundation for conversations, educators can then use thefollowing questions or prompts to better understand how students are managing
their own behaviors online:

Questions to Ask Students:yWhat steps do you take to stay safe on social media and online? How do you
protect your personal information?

yHave you or your friends experienced negative or unwanted interactions
online? How did you handle the situation, and what support did you receive?
What did you learn from the experience?

y

How do you ensure your own online behavior is responsible and considerate(e.g., keeping comments respectful, managing emotions)?

y

How do you deal with peer pressure related to online behavior?

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yWhat resources or tools do you use to report or address any issues you
encounter online?

y

How do you support friends who might be struggling with online safety or
cyberbullying?

yWhat are some online behaviors that you think could be harmful or unsafe?

Prompts to Use:y

My favorite place to “hang out” online is __________.

ySocial media makes me feel _________.

yWhen I encounter a problem or negative interaction online or on social
media, I __________.

y

I think it’s important to report online issues because __________.

yMy biggest concern about online safety is __________.

y

One thing I could do to improve my online behavior is __________.

Conversation Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Many parents and caregivers rely on schools for information, including updates onsocial media and online environments. When discussing the need for safer andhealthier digital environments with these groups, it’s important to cover the topics
addressed in this toolkit, such as:y

The real-life impacts of online actions, including the concept of a “digital
tattoo” compared to a “digital footprint” and raising digitally responsible
youth.

y

Encouraging upstander behavior and the importance of reporting.

yReassurance that taking action is a responsible choice to ensure everyone’s
safety.

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“Prioritizing safety and teaching our children to think critically about
who and what they interact with online is essential. We have to be inthis together, supporting them every step of the way. By guiding our kids
with resources and real-life examples, we can help them understand that
mistakes can happen, but they are never alone. Their only job is to saysomething, and as trusted adults, we will do something.”
COLTON EASTON, Project and Training Manager / Social Media AwarenessSpecialist, Safer Schools Together

By reinforcing these foundational topics and the best practices being implemented
at school, parents can extend this messaging and support their students’ digital
safety at home. Additionally, consider the following points to foster productive
conversations with parents and caregivers:•

Listen without judgment: If your child comes to you with concerns or issues
related to their online experiences, listen carefully and without judgment.
Your support and understanding are crucial in these moments.

•

Take an interest in your teen’s digital life: Show genuine curiosity about theapps and platforms your child uses, including popular ones like Snapchat.
This not only helps you stay informed but also demonstrates that you areengaged and supportive.

•

Utilize parental tools respectfully: Explore and use the parental control tools
available on your child’s devices and favorite apps. While these tools can help
you monitor and manage online activity, it’s important to balance this withrespect for their privacy. Engage in open conversations about these tools but
reinforce the safe space you will always provide as their parent or caregiver.

•

Discuss or create an acceptable use policy: Consider setting guidelines
or creating a family agreement on acceptable use for Internet-connected
devices. This can help establish clear expectations and promote responsible
behavior.

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21

“With great access comes great responsibility. Creating an Acceptable
Use Policy for Internet-connected devices might feel overwhelming or
uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be. Templates and resources areavailable to help busy parents craft a policy they can discuss and enforce
with their child. The primary goal is to ensure safe online engagement,
while also fostering open, judgment-free communication for any
situation that may arise.”
ANTOINETTE KING, PSP, DPPS, SICC, CMMC-RP – Founder, Credo Cyber
Consulting LLC and Author of The Digital Citizen’s Guide to Cybersecurity: How
to Stay Safe and Empowered Online

Questions to Ask Parents:y

Do you interact with your child on their platforms of choice? If not, how can
you create opportunities for organic interaction?

y

How do you create opportunities for your child to “teach” you aboutcommunicating online?

y

How often do you check in with your child to reinforce acceptable use?

These points and questions can guide meaningful conversations between
educators, parents and caregivers, and their children, fostering a collaborative
approach to online safety and responsible digital behavior.

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Conclusion
Thank you for downloading this toolkit! We applaud your dedication to fostering asafer and healthier digital environment for students.
As you utilize these tips, best practices, and additional resources, we encourage you
to share them widely within your school community. By doing so, you empower
everyone to promote a safer and healthier digital environment for students.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the educators, multidisciplinary stakeholders,and school safety advocates whose expertise and dedication have shaped thistoolkit. Your contributions are invaluable in our collective effort to protect every
student, every day.
Together, let’s continue to innovate, educate, and advocate for safer and healthierdigital practices, ensuring that every student can thrive in a supportive online
environment.

Safe, Sound & Healthy Digital Environments: A Practical Toolkit for Educators23