Brunswick County deputies remind parents to talk with kids about online safety
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — With the new school year underway, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is reminding parents and caregivers to talk with children about staying safe online.
The department’s School Resource Officers encouraged families to discuss the apps and social media platforms children use and the potential risks of communicating with people they don’t know in person.
Deputies recommend that parents:
- Know which apps and social media platforms their children use.
- Talk with children about the risks of communicating with strangers online.
- Remind children that people online may not be who they claim to be.
- Encourage children to tell a trusted adult if someone online makes them uncomfortable, asks them to keep a conversation secret or pressures them to send photos.
- Discuss the potential consequences of sending, requesting or sharing nude or sexually explicit images, particularly when minors are involved.
- Remind children that images and messages shared online can be saved or captured and later shared with others.
The Sheriff’s Office also encouraged parents to make online safety an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time discussion.
School Resource Officers regularly speak with students about safety and decision-making at school and online, according to the department.
Parents are encouraged to check in with their children throughout the school year and make sure they know who they can turn to if something online makes them uncomfortable or concerned.
