Volusia deputies host cyber-safety Facebook chat for parents, teens

Volusia deputies spent part of Tuesday in cyberspace, teaching parents howto protect their kids on social media sites in hopes of preventing crime that begins online but can quickly become reality.

“We want to do everything we can to promote good safety habits in order to reduce victimization and vulnerabilities and prevent crimes before they occur,” said Sheriff Ben Johnson. “Social media allows us to communicate directly with the citizens, listen to their concerns and provide them with reliable information that they can use to protect themselves and their families.”

The event, titled “Cyber Safety for Kids & Teens: What Every Parent Should Know,” ran from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Parents can still access an archived version of the chat.

Crime Prevention Sgt. Jay Toth hosted the event, outlining potential dangers of social networking and chat rooms, and offering tips on protecting on-line privacy and preventing cyber-bullying, recognizing the warning signs of exploitation and advising parents on ways to monitor their children’s online activities.

Karen Pierce, a Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy whoteaches cyber safety to students at Deltona High School and Galaxy Middle School also was on hand. Keep kids safe online Have a profile yourself, “friend” your kids and monitor them on line.

Ask daily: “Have you used the computer and the Internet today?”

Share a bit about your social media use to have daily conversations about your kids’ online habits.

Keep the computer in a public part of your home so you can check on what your kids are doing online.

Emphasize that everything sent over the Internet or a cell phone or tablet can be shared with the entire world.

Discourage kids from gossiping, spreading rumors, bullying or damaging someone’s reputation using texting or other tools.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics website