Never too early to protect your young child in the cyber world

In this article, you’ll find answers to questions like:

1. How can parents avoid causing fear?
2. How can parents monitor devices?
3. How can parents handle social media?

These days, the popularity of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat may push you to address touchy subjects with your elementary-school aged children sooner than you want. Cyberbullying and online predators can strike quickly. Here are some tips to help.

1. HOW CAN PARENTS AVOID CAUSING FEAR?

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) encourages parents to make internet safety a priority when talking to their children. Their NetSmartz site offers free resources for parents, and NetSmartzKids has fun, interactive activities for elementary-school aged kids that teach online safety through activities, e-books, games, and videos.

“Listen to your child’s concerns and talk through what they may do if they receive messages that make them feel uncomfortable or bullied. Approach conversations with your child with a sense of reassurance and be open-minded,” says Callahan Walsh, executive director of the NCMEC Florida Regional Office.

2. HOW TO MONITOR DEVICES?

Brianna Coakley, an assistant state attorney and chief of Palm Beach County’s Special Victims Unit, says the biggest issue her team sees is the lack of open communication between kids and parents about the risks of online predators and what to do.

 “Parents and caregivers need to be aware of the risks not just on social media but in every aspect of the internet, including games and applications geared to children,” Coakley says. 

Keep internet-accessible home devices in a public area in your home and turn off Wi-Fi at night. A phone limited to calls and texts is a good option for younger kids. Review your older children’s friend lists, remove any inappropriate content and photos, delete too-personal information, and report any inappropriate behavior to site administrators.

3. HOW CAN PARENTS HANDLE SOCIAL MEDIA?

 “Having a conversation with your children about the dangers of social media can seem intimidating at first," Walsh notes. "Approach these sensitive topics with honesty and comfort. Let your child know that they can come to you if they are ever in a situation online where they feel uncomfortable.” 

NCMEC’s Florida office provides child protection education and prevention programs, case management services, and exploited child services. They work with the community to offer prevention, safety resources, presentations, Child ID kit events, and other NCMEC resources. Anyone who would like to reach the NCMEC’s Florida office in Lake Park directly can call 561-848-1900 or email flbranch@ncmec.org.

Coakley advises parents to have frank, straightforward conversations about the dangers of the internet, including the risks of sexual exploitation by strangers, people they only know through the internet, and people they know in real life. She says to report crimes to law enforcement or use NCMEC's CyberTipline.

And if the unimaginable happens, and your child is missing, call 911 and then contact the NCMEC’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800–843–5678), located at NCMEC’s regional office here in Palm Beach County.

SOURCES:

Callahan Walsh, executive director, Florida Regional Office Development, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Brianna Coakley, assistant state attorney and chief of Palm Beach County’s Special Victims Unit

NetSmartz: https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz

NetSmartzKids: https://www.netsmartzkids.org

CyberTipline: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline