Inappropriate Use of Digital Media

I have dealt with students who have sent or received inappropriate material through their phone and online.  These have included inappropriate pictures, drug references, and bullying statements.  Its an uncomfortable situation for the students involved and uncomfortable for me to have a conversation with young teenagers and their parents about what happened and why the behavior is wrong.  Some situations surprise me because I find it hard to believe that students in middle school are dealing with the issues that they are on social media.  They are too young and immature to be confronted with inappropriate and difficult topics.

What I would like to differently with digital media in the previous situations is to to limit the access that young teenagers have to digital media that isn't beneficial.  Internet access should be limited to prevent accessing and sharing inappropriate and non school related material.  Students do not need their cell phones with them every minute of the day.  This is an avenue for them to keep the fires going that have started on social media and can cause drama throughout the day in school, distracting the learning.