Project SELFIE©
(Safe Expression Online for Internet Empowerment)

Designed for students in grades 7–12, typically ages 12–18

Project SELFIE © is a developmentally appropriate, trauma- informed program focusing on digital safety for middle school and high school students. There are two components of the program: a) an adult training on all types of digital risk and preventative factors, and b) three lessons for students addressing sexting. Ultimately, it is an adult’s responsibility to ensure that youth are safe in both the physical and digital worlds. Yet, youth find themselves navigating the digital world with increased autonomy.

Project SELFIE is designed to be a stand-alone curriculum or an addendum to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont’s SAFE-T (Sexual Abuse Free Environment for Teens) curriculum.

Key points covered in Keeping Adolescent Youth Safe on the Internet© adult training include:

  • Identifying the risks to children and youth in the digital environment: online grooming, in-person grooming facilitated by digital communications, sexting, and online pornography.

  • Implementing protective factors to decrease online risks

  • Implementing organizational policies to decrease online risks

  • How to respond to concerning digital behaviors in adolescents

  • How to support youth facing online exploitation or unwanted behaviors

  • Resources for removing harmful content from the internet

*The two-hour adult training can be presented during an in-service or over the course of 2 faculty meetings. This training can also be presented to parents of middle and high school students.

Key points covered in Project SELFIE © student lessons include:

  • Maintaining digital boundaries

  • Understanding the difference between consensual and non-consensual interactions (including revenge porn and sextortion)

  • Understanding the changing landscape in online relationships, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • Knowing state law for sexting by minors and implications/consequences of sexting

  • Understanding how peer pressure affects feelings about sexting and decisions about sexting

  • Deciding one’s own boundaries around sexting in advance

  • Identifying a trusted adult/ resources to access when you have questions or concerns about digital boundaries, or your images have been shared non-consensually. 

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