GSX Education Session Shows the Importance of a Student’s Online Footprint to Assess School Security

As students continue to live more digitally, understanding what they’re posting should be an important part of any school security plan.

A Tuesday GSX education session, “School Safety in 2023: Three Proven Concepts That Save Lives with Realistic, Affordable, and Modern Applications,” emphasized how a digital footprint can be used to better assess the seriousness of any threats.

Dr. Greg Garber, director of training for Safer Schools Together, said that we must realize how different a child’s world is today from just 20 to 30 years ago because of technology.

“Today, our kids are connected to technology 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” he said “It has come a ubiquitous extension of what they do, and more importantly, how they interpret the world.”

And when a school violence incident occurs, some people might believe that person just “snapped.” But Garber said that is far from the case.

“No one just ‘snaps,” he said. “They weren’t just healthy yesterday and then decided to do this. That’s not how it works. They have been on a pathway to violence, and that takes a substantial amount of time.”

Starting with the Columbine shooting in 1999, Garber showed how the vast majority of major school shooters provided some clue of their intentions online. And each one had been on a pathway to violence.

“These individuals were thinking about this for a long time,” he said. “One of the common elements in every case was pre-event digital leakage available in every case.”

Garber said that you can’t engage in a proper threat assessment today without including the digital element.

During the session, Garber showed a number of realistic tools to further assess the online footprint of a student.

“Our top tool, and that might surprise you, is Google,” he said.

Some of the tools to better use Google include Boolean searches that allow you to better search for exactly what you are looking for.

And while Garber showed how the digital footprint is important in school security risk assessment, he said nothing replaces people.

“Where we have adults in any school where students feel connected to and safe with, once they recognize that they can report and can help their friends get out of trouble as opposed to into trouble, our students do report,” he said. “We need human detectors before security detectors. This a major way to get into that lane of intervention.”

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.