West Noble Middle School will host a special speaking engagement on Nov. 4 concerning internet/social media and keeping our kids safe.

Dr. Michelle Drouin, professor of psychology at Purdue Fort Wayne, will speak to our middle school students during the day, and again at 6 p.m. for staff and parents.

The focus of her presentation:

Parent/Community Talk
When is it appropriate to give a child his first cell phone? How much media should children consume each day? How can I tell if the children in my class are addicted to technology? What can I do if my child is being cyberbullied or groomed, and how can I keep them safe online? The questions parents pose today regarding their children’s online access extend beyond exposure to online pornography and sexual predators—they want to know how to protect their children’s mental health and how to implement guidelines that will support their physical, psychological, and social development. In this interactive talk, I will give an overview of the most prevalent digital harms facing today’s youth with a focus on digital safety, communication, and health and wellness. Community members, parents, and guardians will receive guidance in the creation of developmentally appropriate media use plans for children in their care, and participants will leave with immediately implementable action plans for digital safety that are relevant to their family or community.

Middle School Talk
In this talk, we will address some of the dangers of being online and how teens can keep themselves from being either a victim or a perpetrator of online harm. We will also talk about digital billboards, cyberbullying, and how innocent intentions can sometimes lead to dangerous outcomes. Staying safe online requires you to notice pits of danger when you see them and also when you see something to say something. We will talk about the importance of having trusted adults and the dangerous steps that some people have taken online that end up costing them their freedom or their lives.