Technology and Cyber Safety
Al Marcella, Brian W Moore, Madeline Parisi · 2025
The Internet allows access to information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For schools and child-serving agencies, online capabilities can provide access to resources that facilitate remote learning and create opportunities for collaboration between classes and students in different locations. Nevertheless, the Internet can also serve as a channel for threats that negatively impact the learning community. Students are at risk from online threats like sextortion and cyberbullying, which can have serious impacts. Our digital world, including emerging technologies, presents exposures, high risks, and challenges for seventh- and eighth-grade students. While these issues are universally present and will affect everyone differently, students at this grade level are gaining more online independence and being exposed to more cyber influence than in previous grades. These issues can present challenges and risks that are physical and emotional and may have varying long-term effects on students.