Bend PD investigate teens over explicit online photos

According to the Pew Research Center, about 60 percent of American’s have smartphones, and about 70 percent are using some kind of social media.

“For my age group, it’s a lot about how we stay in touch with our family and friends,” said Heather Helmy, the mother of a Bend High student.

Teens and tweens are using social media and smartphones, too. So, how do parents think their kids are using these platforms?

“Family communication, safety. Also, she looks at a lot of information from the school,” said Ruben Carbo, father of a Bend High student.

He also said the reason he gave his daughter a smartphone was so he can contact her — in his eyes, used for safety and education. He said his daughter uses it for other purposes too, like communicating with her friends.

“Kids are having to deal with a lot of different things that I don’t even think were in the spectrum in the early 2000s,” said Ashley Volz, school resource officer at Mountain View High School.

Volz attended Mountain View and graduated in 2003. She said high school is different now because of the social media aspect.

Her role is first and foremost to protect the children as a law enforcement officer. She also talks to them as an informal counselor, and she teaches a class.

The Bend Police Department says it is currently investigating “several Central Oregon teens” for a case of online harassment.

Clint Burleigh, Bend PD’s public information officer, said Bend High’s school resource officer became aware of explicit photos of Central Oregon teens online.

Bend police said they could not comment further as the investigation in ongoing. But several high school students confirmed to NewsChannel 21 that the photos were allegedly uploaded to a Google Docs document and shared among teens.

“Just, it totally boggles my mind why someone would take a picture of somebody else and put it up for the world to see,” said Bend High senior Summer Caughell.

One teen took a guess and said the reason is hormones.

Bend police said things like this happen all the time.

“I would say the majority of cases involve at least texting and that 25 percent involve social media,” Volz said.

Volz said she sees teens interacting by text message more and more, using it to plan things. She said she sees it when it comes to drug busts the most.

“How do we keep our kids safe at this time when they don’t always understand the implications of what they’re doing?” Helmy asked.

What gets shared on the Internet becomes a digital tattoo, so to speak. Once it’s out there, it can be traced and shared.

“If you don’t want it on the front page of The Bulletin, don’t hit ‘send,’ don’t share it or post it,” Volz said.

Send is always split-second away, so mistakes do happen. More than a mistake, it is actually considered a crime. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to talk to your kids about social media.

For more good information for parents and others: http://safetynet.aap.org/