L.E.A.D. Instructors Train Students to Fight Back Against Online Threats
Keeping your kids safe while they’re at school is always a top priority for local districts. Police officers with one district are helping students fight back against bullying and violence that comes from social media.
A group of 5th graders at Indian Creek elementary will soon be making a big move up to middle school. Some have already started building a social media following.
“I’ve posted video game videos on Tik Tok,’ said Sergio Lopez.
“I’m on Tik Tok and I post dancing videos,” said Lilliana Cruz. Lilliana was inspired when her sister began posting videos to the app.
“She dances with me on Tik Tok and we just do them every day,” Cruz said. But sometimes others online are not positive or encouraging.
“I really don’t listen to it but sometimes it does hurt,” Cruz said. That’s why Sergeant Michael Gilbert with the Southwest ISD Police Department is speaking to Lilliana and her classmates.
“There’s accessibility to anything and everything out there and our students are being targeted,” Gilbert said. “We’ve seen an influx in Tik Tok, Snapchat and other social media outlets that have influenced a lot of decisions for our younger youths.”
Gilbert is also an instructor with Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence, also called L.E.A.D. The program has been a part of Southwest ISD for three years now, but they’re adding an online element this year.
“They’re going to be introduced to a variety of different social media apps that can not only harm them but give access to people they have no idea who they’re speaking with,” Gilbert said. Some students like Lilliana already have some practice at blocking out the haters.
“It’s just people that are having hard things in their life right now so I don’t really mind it,” Cruz said. Gilbert and other officers will train and run through scenarios with the students over the next 10 weeks.
Original article: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/lead-instructors-train-students-to-fight-back-against-online-threats-bullying
