eenagers think they are smart about online security, or cybersecurity. They are so savvy that nearly one-third go around school safeguards to view content banned at their school. A survey found that 29 percent admit to using tech devices to cheat in school. Furthermore, more than twice that many say they know of classmates who have cheated with devices.

Question

The findings of the survey by the computer security company McAfee are similar to a 2009 survey by Common Sense Media, a group that studies how kids interact with media. However, the exact amount of cheating, and whether it's changed over the years, is unknown.

Tests Answers Saved On Cellphone

It's easy, students say, to take a cellphone photo of notes or test answers, and then peek at it while taking a test. At the same time, they note observant teachers notice those glances.

McAfee asked questions to about 3,902 high school students ages 14 to 18 years old. Many of the students — 1,201 — lived in the United States, and the rest lived in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. The amount of cheating and using blocked sites were higher in the United States.

30 Percent Of Students Report Being Cyberbullied

More teens also reported being cyberbullied. In the United States, 30 percent of teens said they had been cyberbullied, more than the 22 percent of teens in the survey overall. Of the U.S. students who said they'd been bullied, half of those reported incidents before starting high school.

Those figures are disappointing, considering the effort put into raising awareness of cyberbullying and fighting it, said Gary Davis of McAfee. He suggested educating children starting at an early age to help them stay safe online. "They need to understand what they should do to not be a victim."

Some teenagers said the survey may understate, or downplay, how often cyberbullying happens.

"It does surprise me, I'd expect it to be higher," said Julia Kolman, a rising senior at Branham High School in San Jose, California. "A lot of people take to Twitter to create fake accounts or use personal accounts to harass other students." Kolman herself doesn't use social media much. However, like many of her peers, she hears about the consequences and drama from it.

Facebook Top Site For Cyberbullying

The survey showed which online sites are the most used for cyberbullying among teenagers in the United States. Facebook appeared at the top with 71 percent, followed by Instagram with 62 percent and Snapchat with 49 percent.

It is easy to create several accounts with fake names, and users can post without using real names or profiles. This has created an inviting and unsupervised place online.

More than 70 percent of teenagers in the United States surveyed said they would feel comfortable talking with an adult at school if they were cyberbullied, the survey reported. Fifty-five percent said that school officials discuss the problem and are trying to prevent it.

Few Teens Receive Online Advice From School, Parents

Fewer than half of the teenagers surveyed — 44 percent — said they receive regular guidance, or advice, from school. Forty-six percent said their parents talk to them about staying safe. The percentage falls to 33 percent with 16- to 18-year-olds. Of the older group, 14 percent said they've never had an online safety discussion with their parents.

"The best thing we can do is to really double down on security education," Davis said. He says that people should start teaching children early, even in kindergarten, to help protect children from bullying.

Of parents, he said, "If you know your kids are on Facebook or Snapchat, you should get on that platform as well. At least then you can have some type of discussion."

But for many parents, it is not easy to have those conversations. Many don't even know where to start, nor do they have any idea what their kids are doing in cyberspace.

Feeling A Sense Of Independence In Cyberspace

Michaela Edlin, a junior at Branham High School in San Jose, says that many kids do not talk to their parents about online safety. "For a lot of kids, sometimes online is the space they can do whatever and be themselves."

The survey also found that 31 percent of students surveyed in the United States said they've gotten around school restrictions. They can access banned online content even at school. Forty-five percent said they could reach social media sites on school-owned devices.

About teenagers' online cyber lives, "there's not very much guidance" in schools, Edlin said. She doesn't remember ever having a lesson on online security at Branham though it really isn't a problem there for now, she said. "It's like unknown territory." Which statement would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

A
Students do not talk much with their parents about banned sites.

B
Students are not surprised by the survey data on cyberbullying.

C
Students are using technology to bully each other and cheat.

D
Students are taking photos of notes and using them during tests.

Answer 1

C Students are using technology to bully each other and cheat.