October is both National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month, making it a perfect time to focus on safe digital behavior for students and educators.
The top trends affecting schools right now:
- AI-generated impersonation scams
Students and educators are being targeted with messages that look like they’re from a colleague or administrator asking for logins or personal info.
- Social media conflict spillover
Screenshots and posts from group chats (Snapchat, Discord, TikTok) are becoming sources of in-school confrontation and disciplinary cases.
- Accidental oversharing
Students — and sometimes staff — unintentionally post images that reveal building entry points, locations, schedules, or staff names.
What educators can do this month:
- Remind students: “If you wouldn’t say it out loud in the hallway, don’t post it.”
- Reinforce the 3-second rule before posting:
- Does this show my location?
- Does this show someone without their permission?
- Would I feel safe if someone else posted this about me?
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication for all school accounts.
- Avoid sharing photos with badges, school layouts, or student faces on personal social media.
Consider using a mini-lesson this month on “Digital Footprints” and how online actions can affect safety, college admissions, and future employment.
