Other Youth are the Primary Perpetrators of Online Harms
Effective programs alert children and teens that inappropriate online behavior often starts with other kids. This might be friends online or offline, kids they know from school, romantic partners or peers they haven't met in person. In fact, a majority of abuse online has been shown to come from peers. Harmful behavior can also come from known adults, such as relatives, neighbors, or mentors from schools or clubs.
The online harms can be in the form of threatening, harassing, or humiliating comments, pressure to send sexual images, or encouragement to harm themselves or others. Program content should acknowledge that it can be hard sometimes to disengage from uncomfortable situations online. Youth may not disengage because they don't want to let friends down, act like they are afraid, appear to be making judgments about people or just missing out.
The Realities of Adolescent Dating/Intimate Relationships
Good programs educate youth that one important and risky space for abuse is within romantic relationships, in-person or online. Trying to impress someone, attract attention from peers, and preserve a relationship can motivate them to override caution, take risks, and fail to consider the consequences. Programs should help students think carefully about how they might feel in difference situations and how they can avoid impulsive decisions.