Texts falsely linked to sex trafficking

Programming Wave of New Thinking

New computer class teaches students the basics for an up and coming career path.

BY PAULA SWEENY CO PHOTO-EDITOR

The new computer programming class taught by math teacher, Mac McGory, has brought students together who want to explore the intricacy of technology. With five students enrolled in the class, it has given the girls an advantage to an area of study that hasn’t been available at Sion until this year.

“[I want the students to gain] an understanding of what programming is and the basic functions,” McGory said.

With his wife is also in the field, McGory believes that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math is the path that is becoming more and more popular. Since the 1990s, 2,348,000 more people have jobs in the STEM field, according to a 2011 survey from the National Science Foundation.

The students learn to write programs, and as they become more advanced will program games. With learning the basics of technology, designing and building programs and coding, they have already made a number guessing game, online mad libs, and will eventually make an animated game.

“I wanted to explore this class because I am really interested in technology/design and understanding, even the basics, of computer technology,” said senior Mia McLey, “this will give me an edge up if I decide to pursue this further in college.” In the short time that McLey has been in the class she has said that she’s learned so much, not only in terms of technology, but also in different ways of thinking.

“Girls are doing some coding and robotics but we wanted to add a more formal class,” Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instructions Ellen Carmody said. Sion has decided to offer this class when they realized that the STEM area was lacking in opportunities. Next semester they will add Computer Aid Drafting and Design. McGory said that this will allow girls to learn more about the basics especially since it is an up and coming career path which has many opportunity for women.

“Coding is about trial and amd error and instead of finding an end result,” McLey said. “It’s about finding the steps to get you to that result, that’s the challenging part.”

Individuals Individuals in Science and Engineering Occupations in the U.S.

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Senior Mia McLey listens as math teacher Mac McGory explains how to solve a coding problem. “I’ve learned so much, not only on the computer, but in different ways of thinking,” McLey said. (Photo by Paula Sweeny)

Texts Falsely

Teenage girls have been on edge after anonymous “compliment” texts were falsely linked to sex trafficking.

BY ERIKA SESLER WEB VIDEO CONTENT EDITOR

Junior Anna Frerker was looking through her text messages and realized she had received one from an unknown number that said “Someone complimented you on IRL! See more here:” with a link to a website of an app.

“Some people said it’s part of a sex trafficking group,” Frerker said. “I honestly doubt that’s true, but I don’t know.”

The panic quickly spread through social media. Girls were warning other girls to not click the link because their information or location could be retrieved by traffickers. As a result, these rumor posts and comments quickly spread and girls were reposting these warnings to make sure the word was spread to everyone, even though these rumors were false.

In actuality, IRL is not associated with sex trafficking. IRL is an app where people can

16% have not received a text

84% have received a text

Linked to Sex Trafficking

connect to meet in person. On the website’s mission, it says that IRL aims to solve technology addiction by bringing people together in real life. On the app you are able to invite people who are not on the app, or nominate someone to anonymously compliment them on something they are good at. When someone is nominated, they receive an anonymous text message saying that they have been nominated.

In a poll of 50 students, 42 said they had received one of the anonymous texts and eight said they had not. It’s the anonymous nature of the texts that has caused a surge of panic through teenage girls.

Director of Technology Services Jason Ketter said that he doesn’t know specifically what apps traffickers use, but the main issue with this site is that it’s yet another opportunity for personal information to be shared online.

“When you put your information on social media, you’re telling the world your information,” Ketter said. “One of the ways to keep yourself safe is to not put your personal information on apps.”

IRL co-founder and CEO Abraham Shafi responded to the outbreak on social media Aug. 28 where he said that the app does not keep contact information or spam accounts. Shafi also provided a link to their new privacy pledge as well as their FAQ page where they address a lot of recently asked questions about privacy in addition to their privacy pledge.

The privacy pledge commits to full transparency on how their data is used and only using data with the users’ consent. They are working on a new feature on the app to come out before the end of 2018 where all the data they collect from a user will be available to see and can be deleted at any time. After receiving multiple texts herself, freshman Liesl Riffe is doubtful of this feature.

“I don’t think that will work very well,” Riffe said. “I don’t think they will really put in that much work.”

Even with the new feature on the app, Ketter still suggests that it’s smart to not put personal information on any social media. Once information is online, he said, it never goes away. Ketter also warned that sex traffickers aren’t always stalking people, but rather come across information from a person who willingly put it on an app.

“Putting your information out there is a bigger risk than being solicited,” Ketter said.

(unknown number) Someone complimented you! See more:IOS: https://apple.co/ 2O01oRx Android: https:// play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=co.irl.android

The texts falsely linked to sex trafficking said the person receiving the text was complimented on the app IRL with links to the app store for the iPhone and Android. (Illustration by Erika Sesler)