Social media is a powerful tool for exchanging information, keeping people engaged in Church activities, and spreading the Gospel. The growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has enhanced the power of social media. But there are significant risks if we don’t use this tool carefully, and many young people are being exploited by those who use if for evil purposes. Here are some tips to protect both adults and minors.
Special Warnings about “TikTok” and Snapchat
There are very serious child protection dangers with the apps TikTok and Snapchat. They rely on AI algorithms to suggest content to minors and to connect them with others. While this can be beneficial and entertaining, there are significant dangers, and many predators use these apps to exploit minors. Many news stories illustrate these dangers.
We strongly recommend that parents not allow their children unsupervised access to TikTok and Snapchat. Here is a resource that can be distributed to parents and students warning them about the dangers of this app: Digital Time Bombs Can Also Go “TikTok, TikTok”….
Protecting Minors from “Sextortion”
One of the favorite tactics of predators is called “sextortion” — coercing minors into sexual behavior. Sextortion begins when a predator contacts a minor through a game, app, or social media. They usually pretend to be another minor, and try to strike up a friendship. The predator then uses lies, emotional manipulation, bribery, and threats to convince the minor to send a sexually-explicit picture or video. Once that happens, the predator can use AI to create even more sexually explicit images (“deepfakes”) and threatens to expose or hurt the minor unless they continue to send more pictures or videos, or even to meet for sex.
The FBI has some suggestions on how to protect minors from sextortion:
- Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
- Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
- Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that a person is who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen.
- Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and they ask you to start talking to them on a different platform.
- Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
- Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone.
More information is available from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Particular Concerns about Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)
Artificial intelligence has quickly become a particular digital tool that impacts all of us throughout each and every day. As such, we all need to be aware of not only its impact in our activities, but also its growing influence on children throughout our society.
AI algorithms have become increasingly embedded in countless products targeted at and used by minors, providing them with personalized interactions and recommendations for entertainment, games, toys, and countless other activities.
Whether they realize it or not, many children and teens access AI daily. And precisely because they are growing intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically, their development is unusually susceptible to outside influences. It is especially because of their inexperience and naivety that AI, like all digital experiences, can lead children into some very hazardous circumstances.
Adults should be aware that AI-generated content, be it audio, video, text or simple search suggestions, can more easily deceive children than adults. And since we are the adults in the equation, it is our responsibility to take extra care with their exposure to those tools during their developmental years.
In extreme cases, AI can integrate images of real people into both photos and videos to make it seem as if they participated in illicit, illegal, or even pornographic activities. Here’s a short news clip that demonstrates the danger that AI can pose to innocent minors.
The Pope himself has been victimized by these “deepfake” capabilities. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone!
It is up to adults, especially parents, to properly instruct our children. To make them aware of the benefits of computer technology, including AI, while giving guidance on how to safely avoid the potential dangers.
Guidelines for Personal Social Networking Sites
Adults who are active in Archdiocesan programs must understand that material on their personal Facebook page will be evaluated based on their position with the Church. They must also make sure that they abide by Archdiocesan policies regarding contact with minors, and maintain proper professional boundaries:
- There can be no private direct communication with a minor you are working with. All communications must be through parents, on a public official Archdiocesan social networking page, or through an official email account.
- You may not “Friend” minors you are working with. This includes groups, “buddy lists”, and other similar arrangements.
- Do not post any image of a minor with whom you are working.
- The posting of any indecent or inappropriate material on a personal social networking site may lead to disciplinary action by the Archdiocesan institution or program in which the adult works.
“Do’s and Don’ts” for Official Church Social Networking Sites
If a parish or other Archdiocesan institution or program sets up a Facebook page, they should follow the following guidelines:
- The administrator of the program or institution (e.g., the principal) should appoint an adult to be the moderator of the site.
- No minor may moderate an official social networking site.
- Access to the site is strictly restricted to those who are actively involved in the program. For example, in Facebook, the best approach is to set up a “Page” for the parish or school, and then make sure that only your students or their parents are permitted to be “Fans”.
- Access to the site is subject to the invitation and approval of the moderator. This way, minors who are not associated with the program and random adult participants cannot get access to the site.
- Private direct communications (“chat” or private messages) may not take place between adults and minors. For example, by setting up a “Page” for “Fans”, the settings can be used to ensure that all communications are public.
- To the fullest extent possible, the moderator must use the privacy settings to block private direct communications (“chat” or private messages).
- The moderator of the program oversees the content of the site. Anything that is indecent, false, derogatory, or offensive must be removed by the moderator.
- No personal information or photographs of minors should be posted without the written permission of the minor’s parent or guardian. This would include phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, etc.
Check here for the full Archdiocesan policy on electronic communications, social networking sites, computer use, and here for our policies on proper professional boundaries.