Bob Cox | Journal Review
Cell phones are the norm in today’s society and many of their uses are good. However, cell phones can cause problems that lead to mistakes by young people that can haunt them for years to come, if not worse.
On Friday, North Montgomery Middle School students were given a warning about cell phones, apps and games that consume a lot of people’s lives today. Shannon Taylor, who works as a digital forensics investigator for the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office, gave the presentation.
“I investigate crimes against children,” Taylor told students. “The vast majority of my cases begin online.”
Taylor, a North Montgomery High School graduate, started her 20-year law enforcement career in Houston, Texas. She has seen no difference between working in a metropolitan area like Houston and working the same crimes in the greater Lafayette area. In fact, she sees how the predator cases are rising at an alarming rate.
Revealing the names of online apps such as Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, Minecraft and Youtube, Tayler asked students to raise their hands if they had any of the apps on their phones. Nearly every student raised a hand.
Taylor did list some positive things about cell phones such as staying in communication with relatives and friends. However, she spoke of the problems with children and cell phone usage.
Again when asked a show of hands about if each student sleeps at night with their cell phone within reach, the majority again admitted they did. Taylor said sleeping with their cell phone can cause problems.
“We find people lose good sleep patterns and have high anxiety and depression,” Taylor warned the students. “This leads to poor study habits, headaches and eye strain.”
The investigator described what online activities are inappropriate and can lead to more serious problems. She mentioned sending sexual photos, using hate speech or bullying as things to avoid.
Taylor warned students that one sent photo is never just one photo. She said anything sent online can be recirculated to other apps and passed around for years. She told of a couple of cases where photos actually led to a child being abducted and another just barely escaping a kidnapper.
Taylor said many predators will work a long time to gain the trust of a child. Predators might be posing as a young teen. Many times predators will be a long distance from the child.
Sharing personal information is something no one should do when in communication with unknown people online. Taylor said if the person wants to share photos, or even meet the child face-to-face the child should immediately report the information to authorities.
Taylor told students the number one problem she sees with young teens is sexting. Sexting is when information is traded that incorporate texting about sexual activities and when people share nude and other inappropriate images.
“Those pictures never go away,” Taylor said. “Sending nude photos of children under 18 years old is a crime and is considered child pornography. Do not send revealing pictures to anyone. Do not trust anyone who you do not know. You will quickly lose control of that photo.”
Taylor said if any student wants to talk about an issue dealing with online behaviors, they can talk to any teacher or Student Resource Officer A.J. Rice. She offered to talk to students.
Rice also is a certified Electronic Device Detector as is Taylor’s K9 partner Roger. Roger is used to discover hidden devices in homes, along roadsides and anywhere else a perpetrator might try to ditch or conceal a cell phone.
Roger displayed his skills in finding hidden cell phones inside the gymnasium.
