Skip to main content
District

MVCSC Online Safety

What K-12 Students Are Accessing Online

In today’s digital world, K-12 students are more connected than ever before. Whether it’s for learning, socializing, or entertainment, the internet plays a central role in their daily lives. While this connectivity offers many benefits, it also exposes students to risks that can affect their well-being, both academically and personally.

According to the Common Sense Media 2023 Report, 53% of 8-12-year-olds and 95% of 13-18-year-olds own a smartphone, giving them unprecedented access to the digital world. Here are some key findings regarding what K-12 students are accessing online:

  • Social Media: Nearly 60% of teenagers use social media platforms daily, with TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat being the most popular. Social media can be a place for connection, but it also opens the door to cyberbullying, privacy issues, and exposure to inappropriate content.

  • Gaming Platforms: Over 70% of teenagers play video games online, often interacting with others through platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft. While these platforms are fun and engaging, they can sometimes expose students to inappropriate behavior or unsafe online interactions.

  • Inappropriate Content: A study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 27% of students aged 10-17 reported accidentally encountering harmful or inappropriate content online, including violent or sexually explicit material.

  • Cyberbullying: According to Pew Research, 59% of U.S. teens have experienced some form of cyberbullying. This highlights the need for strong monitoring and reporting tools to keep students safe in online environments.

With these risks in mind, our district has implemented several tools to help protect students while they navigate the internet, whether for school or personal use.

 

MVCSC Online Safety Hub for Parents

The Online Safety Hub website features articles about social media therapy, online friendships, and more.

Linewize at School and Home

Linewize is a cloud-based online safety and content filtering platform designed to protect students by monitoring and managing internet usage across school devices. It provides real-time visibility into online activity, allowing schools to block inappropriate content, manage screen time, and receive alerts about potential risks like cyberbullying at school and at home. Linewize complies with all major student privacy laws, including COPPA, FERPA, and CIPA, ensuring that student data is handled responsibly and securely. This platform fosters a safe and productive online environment, both at school and at home.

Qustodio for Parents

 

A screenshot of a Qustodio activity summary for Mt Vernon Community School Corp, showing top categories and apps used, with a featured expert insight on YouTube.As a parent, you want to ensure that your child can explore the digital world safely and responsibly. To support you in this effort, our district uses Linewize, a powerful tool that helps monitor and protect your child’s online activity. Through Linewize, the app, Qustodio, offers parents a comprehensive view of what their children are doing online and provides a means to pause district-owned Chromebooks.

By signing up for Qustodio, you have the option to receive daily reports of your students online activity throughout the school day.  These reports share how your student spent their time, what they visited, and what they searched for while on thier district Chromebook.

To sign up, visit Qustodio Parent Page and use the email that you recieve all district communcation to (Skyward and Parentsquare).  This process will connect you to your student(s) and give you access to Qustodio.