ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Roanoke County parents are addressing the issues that come along with cell phones and social media for middle school and high school students.
A community conversation scheduled for Monday night will cover everything from cyber safety and avoiding strangers online, to the consequences of sharing inappropriate images and the importance of creating a positive online reputation.
Organizers of the discussion say the key focus is kids who are in that middle school to early high school age group. They're starting to get the freedom that comes with social media and cell phones, but many have not developed the maturity level to handle the online situations they encounter.
One of the big messages that school leaders and parents are hoping to get across in Monday night's meeting is the permanence of digital conversations and social media.
"We just have to continue to say, 'Anything you send, anything that you put on any type of electronic, it's there forever,'" says Nancy Hand, the executive director of the Prevention Council of Roanoke County. "It's the World Wide Web and it never goes away. Even though Snapchat tells you it disappears, or Instagram or any of those other apps, it never goes away."
This meeting comes as the number of teenagers sending sexually inappropriate messages and photos continues to grow. A study by dosomething.org finds that nationwide, nearly 40 percent of all teens have sent a sexually suggestive message. About one in five teen girls has reported sending nude or semi-nude photos.
Expert say not only is it happening more and more, but the consequences can result in years of punishment. That's why parents behind Monday night's discussion say they want to raise awareness about those consequences.
It is against the law in Virginia to produce, store, or share explicit photos of anyone under the age of 18. Sexting can't be prosecuted as child pornography, a felony that can result in years of prison time and having your name on the sex offender registry for life.
"People don't understand what a felony really means," says Laura Bowman, vice president of programs for the Cave Spring Middle School PTA. "To have a child that is 13 years old on the sex offender registry, think about their chances of getting into college, of getting a good job, of getting a girlfriend, of getting married. The consequences are dire for children and that's why we're having this meeting."
The meeting will also focus on the importance of creating a positive on my reputation, giving yourself the upper hand when applying for colleges or jobs later in life.
Monday's conversation will feature a panel of local experts including the Roanoke County Police Department, the office of the Attorney General, the Prevention Council of Roanoke County and staff from Roanoke County Public Schools.
It starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Cave Spring Middle School auditorium.