ATIXA and NABITA endorse and commend TNG Senior Consultant Mikiba W. Morehead, Ed.D., for her role in a crucial initiative with the Center for Democracy and Technology. The Center released a comprehensive report whose findings and recommendations serve as a wake-up call to schools and institutions to prioritize the safety and well-being of our young students, especially regarding technology use. Morehead will be part of the team developing these key learnings into action. As the report demonstrates, it is crucial to acknowledge that nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) has severe consequences not only for victims but also for perpetrators, who, in many cases, are also young students. NCII—both authentic and deepfake—is a pressing issue in K-12 public schools. Female and LGBTQ+ students are particularly aware of its impact. Schools are falling short in preventing the sharing of NCII and tend to focus on punishing perpetrators rather than supporting victims. Additionally, parents often feel uninformed about the extent of the problem.
Morehead’s extensive expertise and research in technology-facilitated sexual abuse make her an invaluable asset to this collective effort. Her work highlights the urgent need for progressive technology solutions and educational strategies to combat NCII in K-12 schools, protecting the most vulnerable students. We believe her collaboration with the esteemed organizations involved in the report and associated think tank, as well as her ability to educate and inform our K-12 leaders, will significantly advance efforts to implement effective, preventative measures against tech-powered sexual harassment in K-12 settings.
Her work underscores the vital role of awareness education and intervention in the fight against technology-facilitated sexual abuse within the fields of Title IX, behavioral intervention, and threat assessment. Morehead completed her doctoral dissertation on coping-related differences in academic and health outcomes for college students targeted by nonconsensual pornography. Her research includes a project on the prevalence of cybersexual abuse among college-aged individuals during COVID-19 in collaboration with Dr. Asia Eaton at Florida International University. Morehead has presented at higher education conferences on Title IX, cybersexual abuse, and gender issues and authored webinars on these topics. She was quoted in Wired UK, discussing the need for education and technology solutions to combat deepfakes. Recently, she was featured in the Psychology of Black Womanhood’s podcast on image-based sexual abuse victimization and participated in tech-related presentations addressing emerging challenges to student safety.
ATIXA and NABITA applaud the many organizations and individuals involved in this imperative effort to end tech-powered sexual harassment and abuse, and we extend our full support toward implementing meaningful solutions. The involvement of experts like Morehead is crucial in implementing effective policies and preventive measures to protect students. We must continue raising awareness, educating and advocating for victims, and effectively implementing policies and preventive measures to combat NCII in K-12 schools. We hope this collaboration will pave the way for more comprehensive policies and protocols, creating safer learning environments for all students.