Social networking sites are blocked by filtering software in the schools, but Sheumaker said that many students have access to those sites, some of which have been used in bullying incidents, at home. Students also should not be able to access most private e-mail accounts from school but are allowed to have cell phones on campus.

“We really have to encourage parents to know what their children are doing on the Internet (at home) and check text messages,” Sheumaker said.