Lesson 1 of 7 · About 3 minutes
What digital harm looks like
The seven kinds of online harm school staff see most, and the four that need action the same day.
About one in six U.S. high school students say they were bullied electronically in the past year: about 16 percent, in the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. It happens outside school hours, but it comes to school with them, and students often tell the adult they trust most.
| Kind of harm | What it looks like | Act the same day? |
|---|---|---|
| Mean or harassing messages | Repeated insults, threats or humiliation in texts, posts or group chats | Not usually |
| Demands for images or money (sextortion) | Threats to share sexual images unless the student sends more or pays | Urgent |
| A private image was shared | A nude or sexual image posted or sent without permission | Urgent |
| A fake or AI-made image | A deepfake or edited picture or video of a real student | Urgent |
| A threat of violence | A post or message threatening a student, staff member or the school | Urgent |
| Private details posted | A home address, phone number or other details shared to target someone | Can be |
| A fake account | An account pretending to be a student or teacher | Not usually |
Check yourself
Show the answer
Answer: Someone demanding money or more photos from a student Sextortion is urgent. So are shared or fake sexual images and threats of violence.
Remember
- Seven kinds of digital harm come up most often in schools.
- Four are urgent: sextortion, shared images, fake images and threats.
- Students tell the adult they trust most, so any of us may be the first to hear.