Online Safety for Schools Online Safety Magazine for Schools | страница 26

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The Deodorant Challenge is the latest to worry parents, as kids who take part are seriously injuring
themselves. The challenge is a test of endurance and involves spraying
deodorant from an aerosol can directly onto a person’s bare skin. The aim is to see
who can hold it there the longest. This is a very scary trend, because basically these
children are committing chemical burns. Apparently one dermatologist expert
announced that the force of the aerosol itself and the temperature change on
the skin can potentially cause second- and third-degree burns.
Cyber Banging is the creation of videos on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter by rival gang members, using
it to endorse ‘gangs’ and where they come from and to threaten each
other. The
practice is called "cyber banging," and it's often led to fights and even
death.
Media and social media outlets nationally and internationally have
reported
this new phenomenon of gang affiliates using social media sites such
as Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube to trade insults or make violence threats that
lead
to
violence, victimisation, physical assaults, challenges and even murder. Many of the videos are filmed by
gang members who have infiltrated a rival’s ‘territory’ recorded themselves challenging and disrespecting
the local gang, resulting in physical violence.
………………………………….
Whilst all these challenges are physical not technological, without the use of technology (mobile phones
/ tablets etc), the message could not be spread, therefore the online validation sought, the online badge
of honour received, and the online motivation and justification for behaving this way would not be
warranted or ‘go viral’.
………………………………….
Jonathan Taylor MSc
Online Safety & Social Media Consultant
[e-mail]
http://www.besafe-online.co.uk/