APB: SROs Need to be Aware of App Trends
The world of apps is an ever-changing door of, “out with the old and in with the new.”
Because of it, law enforcement, especially school resource officers, must be aware of the latest trends school-aged children are utilizing, Department of Criminal Justice Training Instructor Bill Eckler said.
“Facebook used to be a kid thing,” Eckler said. “Then parents became involved, so kids don’t do it much anymore. It’s kind of the same thing we’re seeing with Snapchat (where kids are using it less because parents understand it better).”
Presently, Eckler said apps such as Tik Tok, Kik, WhatsApp, and Houseparty are reeling in children, and potentially opening up doors for pedophiles to hunt and other less than desirable activity.
Apps such as Houseparty allow up to eight video chats at one time, DOCJT Instructor Cody Shepherd said.
You can drop in on conversations,” Shepherd said. “So, if you and I were talking, one of my friends could drop in on the conversation. The person dropping in only has to have permission from the person who initiates the video chat. This one person and I might not like the other person (on the call), so we could team up and bully that person.
“Hazing and harassing are the biggest things at the schools,” he continued. “There is also another avenue of sexting – trying to get pictures of the girls. Houseparty is real big about that. (Boys) will get a girl in there, and three or four guys will join in to view (and the girl may not be aware of it). It could make her feel defeated and weak.”
A significant problem with many of the messenger or video chat platforms is they are untraceable, Eckler said.
This can be used to the criminal’s advantage, whether they’re using it to set up a drug deal, bullying, or attempting to lure a minor into a compromising position.
“The bigger one for criminal activity is going to be the WhatsApp or Facebook, which now has its encryption or secret messaging,” Eckler explained.
These apps can also be used to target children by pedophiles. In the November/December 2018 Kentucky Law Enforcement magazine article, 14% of teens reported in 2014 that friends had invited someone over whom they had only met online, and another 18% of teens had considered meeting someone in person whom they first met online, according to enough.org.
Additionally, just 28% of parents have installed software on computers to prohibit certain websites and app visitations; only 17% have such software on mobile devices, according to the website.
The key for school resource officers is to build rapport with the children in the schools, Shepherd said.
“It’s about having a network with the students,” he explained. “I had students who would come up to me and tell me when they saw certain things posted. They’ll tell you all sorts of things if they respect you. It comes down to having the respect of the students.”
