Students Learn Internet Truths from Truhe
Launch the media gallery 1 playerby Annie Johnson
Students were assembled to listen to Bobby Truhe, a school lawyer licensed to practice in both South Dakota and Nebraska, talk about and raise awareness of digital citizenship issues in today’s society on Wednesday, February 7.
Truhe talked to students about topics such as cyberbullying, responsible social media use, and internet safety to avoid “creepers,” as he put it. Truhe opened up about the dangers that can come with irresponsible technology use and gave students tips on how to avoid getting themselves into unwanted situations. For example, not making threats, even if it is a joke, or posting, taking, or sending photos that contain sensitive material. He gave examples of situations with pure intentions that accidentally caught inappropriate subject matter that landed students in court cases, as well as situations that were more intentional, including “harmless” threats against a school or another person, but because authorities were unsure if that threat could be acted upon, they deemed the posts as terroristic threats. Many of these circumstances result in unintentional convictions of felonies. Truhe continued on to reveal how common cyberbullying has become in the age where social media is so prevalent, especially in younger kids who have not learned the proper use of Internet platforms. He also talked about the traps that students can fall into, such as sending or obtaining content that can be used against others. Finally, Truhe spoke about staying safe online when it comes to strangers on the Internet who may wish to harm kids.
Freshman Cruz Gleason was a part of the presentation after Truhe invited him up as a “volunteer.” Cruz was given a golf ball representing illegal drugs as Truhe explained that Cruz thought it would be okay if he got drugs from Bobby since he was “his friend.” Truhe then tied the example into the common suggestions of sending inappropriate photographs and other traps that occur in some situations while kids may believe they can trust a stranger on the internet. “I really liked it,” said Cruz, commenting on his thoughts about the assembly. “I thought it was one of the better assemblies we had because it was more interesting. I thought it was a good way of delivering an important message.”
