Impero Software and SafeBAE Partner to Help Schools Detect Issues Related to Sexting and Cyberbullying

Partners will create keyword libraries to help schools detect both sexting issues and bullying after sexual assault

Simi Valley, CA, Feb 10, 2017 – Both malicious acts related to sexting and the cyberbullying of sexual assault victims are all-too-common occurrences among students. To help schools detect these issues, Impero Software, provider of network administration, classroom management and internet safety software, has partnered with SafeBAE (Safe Before Anyone Else), which raises awareness of sexual assault and dating violence among high school and middle school students. 

 SafeBAE will enhance Impero’s library of sexting-related keywords and will help Impero create a new keyword library of terms related to the bullying of sexual assault victims. Impero’s software creates an alert if students use any of the keywords or phrases while using devices on the school network. Educators are then able to view the students’ comments or internet searches in context to determine the appropriate next steps.

Sexting, or sending another person suggestive or explicit digital images or videos of oneself is not uncommon among students who are interested in each other or who are dating. However, too often – whether it’s out of revenge from a bad break-up, an attempt at a joke, or due to peer pressure – one person shares those images with a wider audience without the other’s consent leading to devastating consequences for the victim. This type of malicious sexting, and the cyberbullying which can follow, frequently occurs or escalates when students see each other at school. The keyword libraries developed by Impero and SafeBAE can help schools detect these situations early enough to intervene before the situation gets out of control.

 “Malicious sexting is an epidemic in today’s schools. Too often in these situations, and in cases of sexual assault, the victim is also unfairly harassed and re-victimized through cyberbullying – sometimes with tragic consequences,” said Shael Norris, Executive Director of SafeBAE. “Our partnership with Impero will help schools be proactive in addressing these incidents by providing a means for early detection of potential problems.”

SafeBAE provides resources and organizes speaking events at schools to raise awareness among students about sexual assault and dating violence. Sexual assault survivors Daisy Coleman, Ella Fairon and Jada Smith, who appeared in the NETFLIX documentary Audrie & Daisy, are among SafeBAE’s co-founders and speakers.

Impero’s software monitors students’ online activity on a school’s network and uses algorithms to alert educators if students use keywords that could indicate issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, radicalization, self-harm, or a range of other issues.  

“At Impero, our goal is to help schools keep students safe. In instances of sexting or cyberbullying, students often engage in this online activity while at school,” said Sam Pemberton, CEO of Impero. “Our partnership with SafeBAE will help us provide additional resources for schools to detect and address these situations early and will hopefully prevent potential tragedies.”

The partnership with SafeBAE is part of Impero’s ongoing work to support schools in keeping students safe online and promoting good digital citizenship. Impero launched a $2.5 million “Best Technology for Schools” grant program in November, 2016 to help schools gain access to this state-of-the-art technology. The company also released a white paper, co-authored with the Digital Citizenship Institute, in October, 2016, at the Digital Citizenship Summit in San Francisco, that offers insight and best practices when teaching digital citizenship in schools.

In addition to the monitoring software, Impero Software also provides classroom management tools that teachers can use to take back full control of their classroom while allowing students to benefit fully from the use of technology. For example, teachers can share their screens, send and share files with students, take over or lock students’ computers, create exams and tests, assign tasks, send direct messages to students, or draw students’ attention back to the teacher. Schools can also use Impero Software for a wide array of administrative IT tasks such as controlling passwords, managing the use of printers, or setting computers to power on or off at certain times.

About Impero Software 

Impero Software offers remote monitoring and management software, relied upon by education establishments around the world. Founded in 2002, it is accessed via one million computers in over 70 countries. In the UK it has a 40 percent market share of UK high schools and is used by over 500 U.S. districts.  

Impero’s cutting edge software consolidates a range of powerful classroom, network and device management features enabling schools and colleges to reduce costs and improve both staff and student productivity. Its online safety functionality uses keyword detection technology to help schools safeguard students online.

For more information visit: www.imperosoftware.com

About SafeBAE

SafeBAE is a student-focused, survivor-driven campaign whose mission is to raise awareness about sexual assault in middle and high schools and student’s rights under Title IX. SafeBAE will focus on preventing dating violence and sexual assault by giving students the tools to change peer culture, end harassing re-victimization, and advocate for consent and safe relationship education.