Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal reminds all parish citizens that crimes against children occur online just as they do in real life.
Children online present challenges because of their innocence, curiosity, and desire for independence.
Common dangers encountered by children online are cyber predators, bullies, and identity theft.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, has the following tips for parents on keeping their child safe online: Be involved – Supervise your child’s online activities while teaching them good computer habits. Consider online activities you can work on together; Consider implementing parental controls – Restrict or allow certain websites to be viewed on your computer only by using a password; Let your child know they can approach you at any time with questions or concerns about behaviors or problems they may have encountered online; Keep your computer in an open area; Monitor computer activity – Be aware of what your child is doing online; And set rules and warn about dangers.
The Agency also has the following tips for children on how to stay safe online. Keep your personal information private – Avoid sharing your name, address, telephone number, birthday, passwords, and the name of your school when online. Always lock your device when you are not using it. Choose alternative screen names or email addresses that isn’t your real name. Create strong passwords – Include eight characters or more that use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols when creating passwords. Speak up if you see something inappropriate. And think before you click.
