Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Recognizing Online Strangers

•  What did you learn from the video about meeting strangers online? 

Learning Something New

• What are some hobbies you’ve learned or might want to learn, using YouTube videos and other social media? 

Social Media Positives

• How do you think using social media to connect with friends positively impacts your life?

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Identifying Red Flags

•  What are some things someone might say online that would make you ask if this is a person you really want to talk to?

Advice for Friends

• What would you tell someone who “met” someone online and planned to meet up with them in person?

Responsible Use of Social Media

• How can you ensure that your use of apps like Snapchat and TikTok remains positive and respectful?

High School Students (dialogue starters):

Online Vigilance

•  What is the weirdest or most unsettling thing a stranger has ever said to you or asked you in an app or game? 

Strangers Who Pose as Students

•  If someone claims online to be a student at another school, how can you verify they are who they say they are? 

Impact of Social Media

• Has the use of social media and online communication helped you save time, waste time, or both? 

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• Drugs on Social Media: What Parents & Educators Need to Look Out For
• What is the Chroming Challenge: Understanding the Perils of Inhaling Toxic Chemicals
• TikTok Tranquilizer Challenge: What Parents & Educators Need to Know

Conclusion

Students are digital natives and between screen time at home and screen time at school, they often spend quite a bit of time online. Protecting kids online is more important today than ever before with the risk of online predators, online drug sales, and other dangerous situations that kids have the potential to be exposed to. The most important defense against these online risks is having an ongoing dialogue with students so they understand what red flags they should be looking out for and know what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation.