January 10, 2022
Anchorage –Victims for Justice has teamed with Affinityfilms, Inc. to produce a new, 10-minute film aimed at keeping Alaska kids safe while using online communication tools. “A Million Strangers In Their Pockets” was developed to address the increasing violence that youth are being exposed to as they use social media and the Internet. The video can be viewed on Victims for Justice’s website at victimsforjustice.org (hyperlink to https://vimeo.com/663019068)
“As times have changed with technology and social media, our responses need to change,” said Victoria Shanklin, executive director of Victims for Justice. “This film is the first step to inviting parents and youth to think about and discuss how they are engaging. It also offers some useful tools and tactics for developing safer habits.”
Victims for Justice and Affinityfilms plan to partner with a variety of others – from school districts to mayors, Governor Dunleavy, tribes, law enforcement agencies and health officials at the community and state level – to get the film viewed by as many Alaskans as possible. The film offers parents and other caregivers some basic tools to try to keep children in their care as safe as possible while using social media such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms. The advice includes encouraging parents to know about, monitor and discuss their children’s social media interactions. It also addresses simple things such as turning phones off and storing them in another room at night, individually or collectively as a family. A recent upsurge in school vandalism inspired by TikTok exemplifies how social media can influence young people to take actions they might regret later. The film is appropriate to be viewed by families together, or by adults, teens and tweens separately or in classroom settings.
“Alaska youth, like other people across the world of all ages are increasingly influenced by what they see and read on the Internet and through social media,” says Shanklin. “We hope this video sparks conversation about how we address the challenges this new technology age brings with it.”
A Public Service Announcement (PSA) about this video project can be found at https://vimeo.com/662496566. Those interested in helping to spread the word about the video can request a poster by email to vshanklin@victimsforjustice.org.
Victims for Justice was founded in 1985 to serve victims of violent crimes and to further violence prevention efforts across the state. Learn more at www.victimsforjustice.org.
Affinityfilms, Inc. is an Alaska-based nonprofit media production company formed in 1982. The company has a long history of coordinating projects around various health and social issues. Learn more at www.affinityfilms.org.
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