This slideshow aligns with the YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGNjfiubPKQ This webinar has been developed by the Academy Technology Seminar 3 students of Palisades High school (11th grade). Guided by Mr. Robert Reilly (teacher) and Mrs. Karen Hornberger (librarian). The topic was the issues that accompany friend requests. This specific webinar was produced for the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels; the 11th grade students felt that the primary age group could use the guidance.

1. FRIEND REQUESTS
Barry Weaver, Jessica Shafer, Dan Finney, Daniella Ellis, Dylan Rodd
AND Will Lyons

2. FRIEND REQUEST
WHAT IS IT?
A friend, in real life, is someone you are close with and comfortable around. An online friend,
however, is person added to your list of friends on a social networking website.
For example, on Facebook, you can select a user and click "Add as Friend" to send a friend request to
that user. When the user receives your friend request, he or she may choose to accept or decline the
invitation. If the user accepts your request, he or she will be added to your list of friends. Likewise,
you will be added to that user's list of friends as the same time. Xbox Live, as well as other
organizations include similar features.
Once you become friends with a user, that person will be able to access your profile with the additional
viewing rights. This means he or she may be able to view more of your profile and post comments on
the "wall" of your profile page. (definition adapted from: http://www.techterms.com/definition/friend).

3. ACCEPTING FRIENDS
Online friends can be a great way to:
Connect with friends when you can’t get together in person
Strengthen friendships through shared interests
Build a group of online friends who are safe and fun to interact
with

4. ACCEPTING FRIENDS
Is chatting while gaming the same as a friend request?
Image taken from google images

5. THE GOOD AND THE BAD
Online friendships can be great, but they can also be dangerous.
Chatting with or friending strangers can put you at risk to be
contacted by an online predator (a person who intends to harm
another person by first contacting them online).

7. CHATTING DURING GAMING
You may think chatting to strategize during gaming is harmless, but it
can be dangerous, too.
Predators will listen carefully to anything you say. You may only give
tiny bits of information, but a predator can actually be very good at
piecing information together with intent to harm you.

8. ACCEPTING EVERYONE
Do you accept anyone who requests you?
When do you draw the line of who to accept and who not to?
- Do you know them or just know their name?
- If you don’t know them, just hit “ignore” or “decline”
and do not even ask them who they are.

9. AVATARS
An Avatar is either a graphic image to represent a person or a screen name that
is completely different from the person’s name. Avatars are a smart way to
keep your identity private when gaming or publicly posting.
If a friend request comes from an Avatar account, you can
- Ask your friends if they know who the person is
If you use an Avatar account, you can
- tell your friends in person what your account name is
- attach a message telling them who you are

10. ACCEPTING FRIENDS
Do you know the person in person?
-Outside of the social network you are using.
-Does your friendship just stay in school?
Would they come to your house?
-Would you care to spend time with them outside of school?

11. ACCEPTING FRIENDS
Just because you have mutual friends, do you accept them?
Image taken from google images

12. ACCEPTING THE WRONG
PEOPLE
Over the summer my sister was involved in a chat room using my phone. She was
talking to this guy and somehow this guy had gotten all of my information through
Facebook because I had Facebook connected through my phone. Later that night I
received a friend request from this guy and I accepted him because I had a few mutual
friends. The next day I had 5 or 6 messages from him stating all of my information. He
started calling me inappropriate names and asked how far my home town was from his
location. He also asked how I was doing in school and stated my school by name. I was
scared. I had to delete my Facebook then, I ended making up a new one.

13. SOMETHING TO SERIOUSLY
CONSIDER
You may think that just because someone goes to your school that you are
safe. It has happened that people have accepted friends with a person
that they knew from school who downloaded photos and used them in
inappropriate ways. Imagine seeing yourself in a place where you actually
weren’t, or on a body that is not yours, or even seeing your personal
photo for sale! You may think someone is harmless just because you do
know who they are, but you have to think about how well you know them
and trust them.

14. WHAT TO DO?
If someone that you trusted turns out to be untrustworthy, do not be
embarrassed. It is more important that if something is going wrong
that you tell at least two adults. In certain circumstances, the adults
may need to call the police.
Do not perform pranks on your friends online. Pranks often go
wrong and you may find yourself in big trouble with adults and
possibly the police.

15. DO YOU REALLY KNOW THE
PERSON?
Do you actually know the person?
- What is their personality like?
- Where are they from?
-Can you trust them with your photos, and your personal
information?

16. ASK YOURSELF…
Do you really know all of your friends?
Do you have a limit on how many friends you should have?
Have you talked to every one of your friends in the past 6 months?

17. IF A FRIEND IS NOT BEING A
FRIEND
If you have a friend who is not being nice to you online, you have a few choices. You can:
-Take a break by ignoring them
-Tell a trusted adult
-Temporarily block them
-Un-friend them
Please realize that friending and un-friending should not be taken lightly. It hurts another
person’s feelings. Try to only un-friend someone if they are a person who doesn’t make you
happy to be around them a lot of the time. It is important to surround yourself in life and online
with people who make you feel good about yourself and are comfortable to be around.

18. DR. NICOLE YETTER

19. DR. NICOLE YETTER
Dr. Nicole Yetter is extremely passionate about creating a safe and respectful
working/learning environment for all! She received her Bachelor’s Degree in
Rehabilitation Services Education and a Minor in Psychology from The Pennsylvania
State University. She obtained her Master's Degree in Guidance K-12 from the State
University of West Georgia. Recently, she earned her Doctorate in Education from
Grand Canyon University. Dr. Yetter's dissertation reviewed the effect of
implementing classroom meetings on student performance indicators including;
academic performance, attendance, documented discipline, and bullying behaviors.

20. DR. NICOLE YETTER, CONT.
Dr. Yetter is also a Certified Olweus Trainer and has her AAC II (Associate Addictions
Counselor). Over the past 16 years, Dr. Yetter has worked with and spoken to thousands
of students, educators, parents, and community members on an array of topics. These
included; Substance Abuse, Grief & Loss, Decision Making, Empathy, Bullying, Internet
Safety, and other related topics. Most recently, she was a featured presenter at the 2012
National Conference on Bullying in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Yetter also acts as an Educational
Consultant for various School Districts across the country, the PA Bullying Prevention
Support Plan Workgroup, and The CyberBully Hotline, just to name a few. She currently resides
in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and children where she is employed at a large
suburban high school as a Guidance Counselor and Safe Schools Coach.

21. RESOURCES
Article:
How Internet Predators Select Their Victims: http://www.safer-internet.net/how-internet-predators-
select-their-victims.html
Xbox Live Privacy Settings: http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live/online-privacy-and-
safety/online-safety
Facebook Privacy Settings: http://www.facebook.com/help/privacy
Facebook Friend Requests – Is “Not Now” a Safe, Polite Option or a Privacy Problem?
http://topsecretsurfer.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/facebook-friend-requests-is-not-now-a-safe-polite-
option-or-a-privacy-problem/

22. CREDITS
A HUGE thank you to:
Kurt Schollin, from Bucks County Intermediate Unit, for guiding Palisades High School
students through Elluminate webinar software.
Dr. Nicole Yetter, for generously volunteering her time and expertise on cyber-safety.
Janice Conger and her 4th Grade students at Arrowhead Elementary, for being wonderful
participants.
Joel Filling and all of the 6th graders who filled out our student surveys.
Jaime Guthier and the Academy teachers who made this a truly interdisciplinary project.
Palisades High School and School District Administrators for supporting our webinar.

23. CREDITS
Teachers involved in this lesson:
Rob Reilly, Academy Teacher, Palisades High School
Karen Hornberger, Library Media Specialist, Palisades High School