Brown County Sheriff’s Office has recently had investigations regarding inappropriate use of social media and technology applications involved in the victimization of young people, Sheriff Bobby Grubbs released the following information.
Recently, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in a number of investigations where the use of social media and new technology applications for smart phones was used to victimize young people without their knowledge. There is a serious misunderstanding and lack of knowledge with youth on the level of privacy in messages and photographs transmitted in social media and smart phone apps. With the start of the school year just around the corner, it is important for parents, teachers, and students be aware of this growing and dangerous problem.
New technology is being used by predators against unsuspecting youth to commit a variety of crimes. Predators often use common social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram coupled with phone applications such as Kik, Hangout, Hookup, Text Now, Free Text, Pinger and SnapChat (a few of the many applications intended to be used by adults – many of which have graphic names). These technologies are often a means used to prey on young people for sexual gratification, graphic photographs, illegal activity, or drug trafficking. Facebook and Instagram have commonly positive uses but in the wrong hands can be used as a tool for stalking, inappropriate contact, or criminal behavior.We have seen a number of cases where an unsuspecting sender (eventually the victim), usually a young female, has been coerced to send an explicit message or photograph, believing it would disappear once it’s viewed, never to be seen later. The message or photograph is often sent through SnapChat. Later the digital information is discovered on a phone or computer or turns up on the internet, to the embarrassment and great pain of the victim, the victim’s family and friends. We learned through an investigation that the recipient (usually the predator) of the message or photograph had a way to save the photos and message to a phone or hard drive without the sender’s knowledge, leaving the picture or message to be further spread through the digital world. Once a photo is dispersed on the internet, it is impossible to retrieve or erase. It is out there for the world to see. Often, parents have told our deputies they monitor their children’s phones only to be shocked when we’ve shown them a questionable or adult application on a child’s phone.
We recommend that parents and those involved with youth take steps to become more aware of this problem and the associated applications which can be found in an internet search or in a search of the apps store on the smart phone. Familiarization with questionable apps and their icons will give a better idea of what to watch for. Youthful users of these apps must understand that they are potential victims and need to seriously consider the question; Why send an inappropriate message or photograph? These tech companies often promote for instantly erased information, anonymity, or privacy but instead, are fully vulnerable to new advancements and hackers. If you don’t want it to be in the hands of someone with criminal intent or someone to have it endlessly, don’t even think about it. Don’t photograph, don’t text it or send it if it is not substantive of good character. It is a good rule to consider every message or photograph as viewable by anyone or everyone, at any time, and in any place. Following this rule can save great pain.
Currently, we have two deputies who have advanced training on technology crimes. Those who feel they have information concerning these types of crimes should first contact their local police department. Those not within a local police department jurisdiction, should contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
For additional information or media comments, contact Captain Vance Hill, Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
