Slideshow by Zoe.Warfield

Impact Social Media Has On Teens

zoewarfield — 2025-05-09 14:47:04 UTC

by Zoe Warfield

A Deadly Mentor

zoewarfield — 2025-05-09 15:09:35 UTC

At 14, Breck was invited into an online gaming group by school friends, where he played on a server with other boys. The ringmaster, Lewis Daynes, was not someone they knew in real life. Lorin, a teaching assistant, believed that if it was a daughter enthralled by an online stranger, she would have been taken more seriously.

In December 2013, Lorin dialed the police on 101 and told the call handler what she had heard and what she feared. She believed she would be checked in the Police National Computer. However, police did not find anything suspicious about Daynes, who had led a troubled life and was unemployed.

Lorin confiscated Breck's computer equipment and organized a meeting with Barry, another boy from the gaming group, and his parents. Daynes couriered a phone to Breck so they could communicate and persuaded Breck to record the meeting about him so he knew what was said. From then on, he knew they were on to him.

Police have now established that Daynes began to claim he was ill and dying, too weak to run his company. He decided to hand it over to Breck, if Breck could come to his flat in Essex and learn how to take it over.

On February 16, 2014, Breck took a £100 taxi ride to Daynes's home, where he had cut Breck's throat, photographed his body, and sent the image to other members of the gaming group. The news quickly spread between phones to reach Breck's siblings just as police were informing their father.

Daynes later pleaded guilty to murder with sexual and sadistic motivation and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Lorin has set up the Breck Foundation to raise awareness on internet safety and speaks at schools, conferences, to parents, and police.

What are some red flags🚩

zoewarfield — 2025-05-09 15:11:11 UTC

🚩 Behavioral Red Flags

Quickly Connects
Excessive Compliments
Secrecy Requests Rapid Escalation
Age Deception

🔒 Privacy Invasion

Fishing for Personal Info
Requests for Photos/Videos
Use of Fake Profiles

🧠 Manipulative Tactics

Guilt Tripping
Testing Boundaries
Threats or Blackmail

What Negative Effects can Social Media Have???

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 13:55:46 UTC

⚠️ Risks

Depression and Anxiety
Constant comparison to others, exposure to idealized images, or being left out of group posts can lead to feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, and low self-esteem.
Cyberbullying
Harassment or humiliation online is deeply damaging. Victims of cyberbullying are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Sleep Disruption
Excessive screen time—especially at night—interferes with sleep, which is crucial for teen mental health. Poor sleep is linked to mood swings and suicidal ideation.
Addiction and Isolation
Teens may become obsessed with likes, follows, and validation, leading to social withdrawal from real-life relationships and increasing feelings of isolation.
Exposure to Harmful Content
Algorithms may show teens content related to self-harm, eating disorders, or suicide, sometimes even promoting them. This can normalize or glamorize dangerous behaviors.
Suicide Contagion ("Copycat Effect")
Seeing posts or stories about suicide—especially those that romanticize it—can influence vulnerable teens to consider or imitate such actions.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Constant exposure to others' curated lives can make teens feel excluded or worthless, fueling depression and hopelessness.
Shame or Public Shaming
A single embarrassing post, sextortion, or being "canceled" can feel like social death, leading some teens to suicidal thoughts or attempts.

🧠 Warning Signs in Behavior

Withdrawal from friends/family
Changes in sleep or eating habits
Giving away possessions
Talking about feeling hopeless or being a burden

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:03:33 UTC

HOORAY!!!

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:10:26 UTC

If you chose the last answer you are correct!!!

Someone asking normal questions like you favorite food or animal is okay. When the questions start to shift to the point where they could pick you out in a crowd or identify you in a line up, the line has been crossed.

What should you do if a predator is targeting you?

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:15:02 UTC

Stop all contact immediately – Do not respond to messages, comments, or friend/follow requests.
Block the user – Use the platform’s block feature to prevent further communication.
Report the account – Report the user and any inappropriate messages to the social media platform.
Document everything – Take screenshots of messages, profiles, and any threats or inappropriate behavior for evidence.
Increase your privacy settings – Make your profiles private and review who can contact or view your content.
Tell a trusted adult or authority – If you’re a minor, inform a parent, teacher, or school counselor. If you're an adult, consider telling a friend or trusted person.
Contact law enforcement – Especially if threats are made or personal information is exposed (doxxing), report it to the police.
Avoid sharing personal information online – Remove or limit access to personal details like your location, school, workplace, or contact info.
Stay calm and do not blame yourself – Predators are manipulative; it’s not your fault.
Use safety tools or organizations – Reach out to organizations like the CyberTipline (in the U.S.) or your country’s cybercrime unit for help.

Hmmm...

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:18:19 UTC

YIPIEE!!!

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:21:16 UTC

If you chose the last answer you are correct! There is a point where there is nothing you can do in your own power, you have to get help from someone who has more authority than you (Police, Platform owner, and/or Help services).

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:29:02 UTC

Watch this quick video of a scenario where and older man catfishes a freshman!!! #ew

Am I being catfished???

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:33:06 UTC

Which of these profiles looks more believable?

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:40:58 UTC

View them and then answer the poll an the end.

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:45:15 UTC

NAME: Tiara Jacobs

AGE: 16

INTERESTS: Doing my nails, hanging with friends, and making TikToks

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:47:59 UTC

NAME: Nia Lopez

AGE: 22

INTERESTS: swimming, dancing, and going shopping with my friends

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:50:25 UTC

NAME: AJ Mallen

AGE: 16

INTERESTS: buying shoes, playing video games, and playing football

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:53:18 UTC

NAME: Chase Cameron

AGE: 15

INTERESTS: lacrosse, music, and video games

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 14:59:37 UTC

NAME: Jamie Ambercrobie

AGE: 15

INTERESTS: Teenager stuff, Skate Boarding, and playing sports.

Guess What...

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 15:03:52 UTC

Jamie Ambercrobie's real name is Joe Graham!!! He is 52 and lives in his moms basement catfishing kids all day to get inappropriate pictures. He sells the pictures online, and uses the money to buy cigarettes and Chinese food.

Go ahead, take your guess, who is fake???

zoewarfield — 2025-05-12 15:06:17 UTC