Fifth Graders Learn How to Stay Safe on the Internet

Fifth graders across Bedford Central School District have been taking part in conversations about internet safety with BCSD’s Director of Technology David Gee and the district’s School Resource Officers (SROs). At Mount Kisco Elementary School, Gee was joined by SRO Jack DeAlto and Westchester County Police Officer Aaron Sevillano.

To demonstrate that it was a safe space, the presentation began with the question, “What do you like to do on the internet?” Gee made it very clear from the beginning that there were no wrong answers and that they weren’t there to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong; they were there to give them tips on staying safe.

Students offered a variety of answers, from “doomscrolling” TikTok to playing Roblox, watching YouTube, using Snapchat, and “searching up the millions of things I’ve wanted to learn about my whole life.”

Once the chatter died down and students had shared their answers, Gee turned to a question that became a touchstone throughout the rest of the conversation.

“I have a really important question,” he said. “What else in your life do you lie about?”

Students looked around wide-eyed, unsure of what he was talking about before he continued.

“In order to have accounts like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, you have to be 13.” Understanding dawned on the students, who realized he was right. “Now, some of you may have had conversations with your parents and they decided it was ok,” Gee continued. “I’m not here to tell you it’s not. But there are some things on those platforms that are not appropriate for you. You lied about your age, and you don’t know what the person you’re talking to is lying to you about. You could think you’re talking to someone your age and they’re not.”

From there, the conversation continued to topics like the importance of not sharing personal information, the fact that nothing is ever gone from the internet (even if you delete it), cyberbullying, the importance of telling a trusted adult if something feels wrong or is inappropriate, and more.

Officers DeAlto and Sevillano also shared that adults run into issues on the internet as well.

“We have adults coming into the police station all the time who get threatened or scammed out of money from strangers on the internet,” Officer DeAlto said. “If you see something that seems a little weird, tell someone.”

“Is it weird if someone you don’t know asks you your birthday?” Officer Sevillano asked. Students responded with an enthusiastic yes. “They might be trying to find out how old you are,” he added.

Gee took it a step further, noting how people can get really tricky.

“Let’s say you post a picture at Leonard Park,” he said. “People will be able to tell that you’re from Mount Kisco. They can find out that MKES is the only elementary school in Mount Kisco. Then they can pretend they know someone here and you might think it’s ok to talk to them. But you don’t know if they’re lying if you don’t know them in person.”

Throughout the conversation, students mentioned things that have happened to them or to people they know.

“Every time I get a friend request, and I don’t know the person, I decline,” one student said.

“My mom restricted YouTube,” said another.

On the other side of the spectrum, a student shared that she and her cousin were playing an online game with someone and chatting with them. They thought they were talking to a girl their age but eventually found out it was a thirty-year-old woman.

Gee and the officers reiterated the fact that it’s not safe to talk to someone you don’t know because you have no way of knowing what they’re lying about and that it’s important to tell a trusted adult if something strange or inappropriate happens.

“We all get a feeling when something isn’t right,” Gee said. “Trust that feeling when you’re on the internet.”