Alrighty besties! It's that time of the year again: BACK TO SCHOOL C&C SPECIAL!!! Each year we dedicate one episode to kicking off the school year with safety tips for both students and parents! Last year we focused on college students, this year we wanted to discuss internet safety for elementary school students by giving you a case that demonstrates just how vulnerable young kids are to fabricated stories and lore on the Internet. Morgan starts us off by covering the origin of Slender Man. What started off as a photoshop contest morphed into one of the biggest internet creepypasta sensations of the 2010s and led to finding possible proof of such a crypid being real, dating back centuries. Taylar then covers the case often referred to as "The Slender Man Stabbing" from Waukesha, Wisconsin in May of 2014. Three best friends: Morgan, Anissa, and Payton celebrated a 12th birthday just like any other 6th graders would by having a sleepover. No one knew the horrific events that would follow after 5 months of planning and the motivation being: becoming Slender Man's "Proxies". This tragedy takes the breath away from anyone and everyone that hears this case. Remember that the internet is now woven into our everyday lives, as adults and also for children. It is not a safe space for those who are vulnerable and because of this, it is our responsibility to protect children and educate them on internet safety- not from just the predators that lurk there, but from the stories and websites that they are not mature enough to understand. Be smart, Be safe, and educate. Teachers: we see you and thank you for all that you do. Parents: you've got this and you're doing good. Students: enjoy every moment, make new friends, try something new, and take in all of the knowledge!!!! We love you all and we will see you next week for our Creepy Accounts!! Don't forget to head over to our Instagram (@creepsandcrimespodcast) to cast your vote on which cases you would like us to revisit!!! TTYL ILY! This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode. Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions and mange your expenses the easy way by going to RocketMoney.com/creepsandcrimes Download the Drizly app or go to Drizly.com and use code CREEPSANDCRIMES to receive $5 off or $0 delivery fee* off your next order Produced by Dear Media See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.