Cybersafety

What Parents Need To Know

By Sean Thompson

Parents are hardwired to protect their children from the dangers of the world. If your child wants to go to a friends house, it is natural for you to ask questions to determine if it is a safe environment, but are you also questioning his/her internet or cell phone habits? If not, now is the time to start, so your son or daughter doesnt fall prey to a child predator.

Members of the Roswell Police Department frequently provide training about the dangers of the internet and social media to parents and students. It can be an uncomfortable topic for families to discuss, but we cannot stress enough the importance of finding out who your children speak to online, what activities they are engaging in, and what apps they are using. There are over 1 billion websites and over 2 million mobile apps, each with unique features and guidelines.

One of the primary safety tips for parents to know is to never allow their children to communicate with an unknown entity. Parents should physically meet the people with whom their children communicate. Never allow your child to meet with or send photographs to any unknown individuals.

Sexting is the practice of creating, sending, and/or posting sexually suggestive language, images, or video via mobile phone, email, or internet proxy. Parents should stress to children that anything that is captured, passed through, or viewed on an electronic device does not completely disappear. Even when deleted, a digital trail remains, which can easily be picked up by those with harmful intent.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection conducted a study of 152,000 reports of child sexual abuse and found that children under 12 years of age were depicted in 78.30% of the child exploitation images and videos assessed by their team, and 63.40% of those children were under 8 years old. We, as a society, need to do better to protect our children.

When it comes to Facebook or other social media platforms, look at the type of access that your childs profile provides. Profiles can be open to the public, accessible to friends of friends, or open only to accepted friends. Do not allow children to geotag or check-in everywhere they go or to announce travel plans. Announcements and check-ins provide the opportunity for strangers to know your childs patterns of behavior and whereabouts.

Further information on internet and social media safety can be obtained through training with your local police department, or by visiting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Childrens website at MissingKids.org/netsmartz/topics/sexting. The best way to protect your children is to educate yourself, set a good example of safe internet communications, and be aware of your childs internet activity.