AG to students: Web is like dark alley

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Michigan is trying again to combat cyber bullying and other technology crimes -- and this time state officials are taking their message directly to children.

Attorney General Bill Schuette addressed students in Grand Rapids Wednesday, comparing a computer to an assault weapon when in the wrong hands as he explained the problems and consequences they could face online.

Focusing on cyber bullying and sexting in his talk to about 150 middle school students at C.A. Frost Enironmental Science Academy, Schuette also told students the Internet could be like a dark alley in a rough neighborhood.

He was addressing those gathered to kick off this year's version of the state's Cyber Safety Intiative, or CSI.  

A social media veteran already at the age of 12, Rebecca Malinowski says cyber bullying and in person bullying happen more often and at much younger ages than most people hear about.

"Bullying, it's terrible. I know I was bullied," said Malinowski.

The 7th-grade student told 24 Hour News 8 she hopes the bullies in the audience at C.A. Frost paid attention to what bully victims go through.   

She also explained that it's sometimes hard to get adults to understand what exactly kids face in the cyber world.   

"They don't understand much of how the kids are going through," said Malinowski. "The kid needs to tell them everything."

That's part of the reason a sample online safety contract the CSI uses has a place for both the adult and child to sign. The parental agreement reads, in part, "I will not over react when a child tells me about bad things that happen in cyberspace."  

Adults at Wednesday's assembly said they hope kids tell an adult if they're getting bullied.    

"It's becoming -- I wouldn't say a daily issue -- but it's becoming an issue that we're more aware of. As kids become aware and parents become more aware, they are coming to us and seeking our help and assistance," said GRPS Assistant Superintendent Larry Johnson.

Reports of online bullying are going up at West Michigan's largest school district starting at a younger age. Johnson said he thinks that's because more people are reporting it -- not necessarily because it's happening more.   

Schuette also told students about the serious legal consequences they could face if they're caught doing something like sexting. That's something that Malinowski said she, and many of her friends were unaware of.  

The concept that images posted to the Internet can live forever is stressed when discussing sexting.

Johnson said most kids struggle with that concept and the gravity of the issue.

"Most people understand that when you hit delete on a computer, they believe that it's gone. The message is gone," said Johnson. "What they need to understand is when you send a message, send anything inappropriate across the Internet, within seconds that can be blasted out to hundred of thousands of individuals."

Johnson also told 24 Hour News 8 that since kids have Facebook pages and access to technology as young as kindergarten, conversations -- even those about sexting -- need to start early.

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Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative