Online dangers are rampant for children in this day and age, and what happens on social media can seem just as real as a conversation at recess.“It can be an app that utilizes anonymous communications with children as much as it could be something that children are really familiar with,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench, with FBI Jackson.Orench said anyone at any age can be lured by predators.“The vulnerabilities of a child to an online predator are just as widely varied as age is, and so you might have an online predator who is looking to manipulate any child’s desire to be liked, desire to be heard,” Orench said.As part of the back-to-school checklist, parents should have conversations about cyber safety with their children.“Make sure that there is a safe space for questions and an ongoing conversation with their children so that they are aware of what their online activities look like and anything that might be out of the ordinary,” Orench said.Many schools are issuing laptops, including the Hinds County School District, which begins that process as early as first grade. By sixth grade, students are able to take the laptops home. But the district is trying to be proactive by using filter companies.“That blocks pornography and other sites that we don’t want our students to get into. So, they are very well protected,” said Tonie Crisler, with Hinds County Schools. Crisler said it’s important for parents to continue to be aware of what their children are doing online, even if they’re using a school-issued laptop. “It’s a responsibility of a parent to make sure they still monitor even our laptops for the school to see what your children are doing,” Crisler said. “Get on the devices. If I’m paying for the device as a parent, I have a right to get on the device.”The FBI recommends that parents be tuned in and very educated about what their kids are doing on devices. There are many programs to get educated on cyber safety and the dangers that can be found at FBI.gov or Justice.gov.
Online dangers are rampant for children in this day and age, and what happens on social media can seem just as real as a conversation at recess.
“It can be an app that utilizes anonymous communications with children as much as it could be something that children are really familiar with,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench, with FBI Jackson.
Orench said anyone at any age can be lured by predators.
“The vulnerabilities of a child to an online predator are just as widely varied as age is, and so you might have an online predator who is looking to manipulate any child’s desire to be liked, desire to be heard,” Orench said.
As part of the back-to-school checklist, parents should have conversations about cyber safety with their children.
“Make sure that there is a safe space for questions and an ongoing conversation with their children so that they are aware of what their online activities look like and anything that might be out of the ordinary,” Orench said.
Many schools are issuing laptops, including the Hinds County School District, which begins that process as early as first grade. By sixth grade, students are able to take the laptops home. But the district is trying to be proactive by using filter companies.
“That blocks pornography and other sites that we don’t want our students to get into. So, they are very well protected,” said Tonie Crisler, with Hinds County Schools.
Crisler said it’s important for parents to continue to be aware of what their children are doing online, even if they’re using a school-issued laptop.
“It’s a responsibility of a parent to make sure they still monitor even our laptops for the school to see what your children are doing,” Crisler said. “Get on the devices. If I’m paying for the device as a parent, I have a right to get on the device.”
The FBI recommends that parents be tuned in and very educated about what their kids are doing on devices. There are many programs to get educated on cyber safety and the dangers that can be found at FBI.gov or Justice.gov.
