RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Law enforcement and child advocates are urging parents to talk with their children about internet safety following a recent case involving an online predator.
Investigators said popular online gaming platforms can serve as gateways for people seeking to target children.
In a recent federal case, Kayden Laing was accused of using the gaming application Roblox and an internet-connected cell phone to target and communicate with an 11-year-old girl living in South Carolina.
Officials said perpetrators often use chat features in kid-friendly apps to build trust with young players before attempting to move conversations to private messaging.
South Middle School Principal Darren Schmidt said children need to learn that a friendly username online does not mean a safe friend in real life.
“It’s educating the kids that not everybody online is their friend, and one of the main conversations that we have with kids sometimes is: Do you feel comfortable having this person over to your house? If you don’t know that person, you wouldn’t have them in your house, and you wouldn’t invite them in; don’t have them on social media,” Schmidt said.
Experts recommend reviewing privacy settings across all gaming apps, keeping devices in common areas of the home, and reminding children never to accept direct messages or friend requests from strangers.
Any suspected online exploitation can be reported to local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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