Speaker to emphasize image protection online

PRESENTATION — Catherine Bosley, a former Ohio TV news anchor, spoke to Indian Creek High School students on Oct. 11 as part of a speaking tour on digital safety throughout all Jefferson County school districts, sponsored by the Jefferson County Juvenile Task Force. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — An upcoming presentation will feature a guest speaker and panel to educate parents, teachers and other adults on the importance of digital safety and how to protect children’s reputations online.

Sponsored by the Jefferson County Juvenile Task Force, the presentation will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Eastern Gateway Community College lecture hall. Catherine Bosley, who worked as a television news anchor, will give a talk entitled “Forever and For All to See: Our Day of Digital Everything,” and give personal testimony to the gravity of protecting one’s image online.

Among panelists for a question-and-answer session will be representatives from law enforcement, the education system, the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office, the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board and ALIVE Inc. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as a drawing for door prizes.

The presentation comes following Bosley’s previous speaking tour through all of Jefferson County’s school districts, sponsored by the task force. Beginning Sept. 6 and ending Oct. 11, the tour brought Bosley to speak with seventh- through 12th-graders about how a single mistake online harmed her personally and professionally and how she overcame it.

Formed in May 2022, the task force is comprised of the Jefferson County Juvenile Court, the Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, Family Recovery Center, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Jefferson County General Health District, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, all local law enforcement, ALIVE Inc. and A Caring Place Advocacy Center.

Joe Colabella, juvenile court administrator, said the task force chose digital reputation management as its yearly topic to address after observing an increase in juvenile-related offenses for sexting or other cellphone safety misuses.

Funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Youth Services for community education on social issues, the task force’s school district presentations with Bosley received an “overwhelmingly positive response,” Colabella said. The next step, he added, is to bring that same awareness to parents, as well as educators, case workers and other adults.

“We’ve learned that there’s some stuff adults can do to help keep their child’s reputation online safe … (and) be aware of what’s going on. … (The presentation) is so they can help their kids stay safe in the digital world so they don’t make a mistake that could follow them for the rest of their lives.”

Probation Officer Jamie Dent reported hearing from educators whose students do not realize the gravity, longevity and possible illegality of their actions on digital platforms like Snapchat and TikTok. The COVID-19 pandemic increased juveniles’ attachment to technology, Dent said, contributing to misbehavior on phones becoming the majority of her case load.

The docket and case loads have increased dramatically, Colabella said, so it’s crucial that the task force let digital safety principles be known and act as “preventative education” to keep juveniles out of the court system.

Dent said that Bosley, who adjusts her speeches to fit the age group, will be more up-front with adults about the issues at hand, including sexting and sextortion — when an individual blackmails a juvenile with his or her own damaging images for money. Along with addressing those issues, Bosley will also provide resources to help individuals who may currently be experiencing these incidents.

The digital safety theme is a breakout topic for the task force, which meets every six weeks and has the motto “RESPECT: Reaching every student, parent, educator, (and) community together.” Planned for years but delayed in part by the pandemic and funding, the task force now acts as a connecting force between other local agencies and its own members, which share the goal of keeping kids safe, Colabella said.

“All team members from each agency have worked hard to get this up and running and make sure presentations are facilitated well,” he said, adding that local organizations have been individually advertising for the presentation.

Door prizes at the presentation will include a $250 gift card for Ferguson’s House of Furniture, a three-month membership to the YMCA from the Jefferson County health department, two bed frames and mattresses and an array of gift cards and baskets donated by local businesses.

Among refreshments will be coffee and doughnuts donated by the Steubenville Dunkin’ and water donated by Shorac Funeral Home, Colabella said, adding, “Juvenile court appreciates all the local support for this evening.”

Any questions can be directed to juvenile probation court by calling (740) 283-8557, ext. 2300.

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