UNITED WAY
FBI gives safety tips
By Vincent Marshall
@vince_dcglobe
At a “Lunch and Learn” seminar on Thursday, two members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation out of Garden City spoke about safety tips aimed at children and teenagers using the internet.
Hosted by the United Way Leaders of Dodge City, the agents discussed many ways parents and guardians could better monitor their child’s internet use.
The agents preferred their names not be revealed.
“Safetyhasbecomeaproblem in Dodge City, Garden City and smaller schools in the area,” the FBI agent said, “asyoungerkidsgetaccessto phones and the internet.
“Every crime nowadays is relatedtotheinternetinsome way.
“Wecannotstressenough, trust but verify. Know what they are doing and who are they doing it with.”
The agents discussed the use of downloadable instant messaging applications such as Kik, Whisper, Omegle and Yik Tak that can use anonymous messagessentbetween users.
Someoftheappsevenhave GPS-based algorithms that can show users where the other person they are talking to are located.
“As great as the internet is,” the agent said. “There is a darker side to the internet where child predators can be and are at.”
Theagentsgaveseveraltips parentscanuseinmonitoring their child’s internet use.
“There are a parental control apps that can be used,” theysaid.“Youcanalsocontact cell phone companies on getting features turned off at the store depending on the
service provider.
“Use lock codes on the phone as well as make sure you have your child’s lock code.
“If you are paying for the phone service and/or phone, you have every right as a parent to randomly check your child’s phone, texts and apps they have downloaded.”
Other tips given were, if a childhasaFacebookpage,let them know that if a person sends them a friend request, and they don’t know the person, do not accept the request.
Along with cell phones and apps, predators can target users through online video games especially if those games have messaging capabilities.
One question that came upduringthediscussionwas thelatestPokemonGoreality game.
“Youshouldbeconcerned with the game,” the agent said.“Usersareabletocreate hotspots to lure players to locations which would be something a predator would use.
“Iwouldsay,ifplayingthe game,don’tletthemplaythe game on their own.”
But what one agent could not stress enough was communication between parent and child.
“Donotassumeanything,” theagentsaid.“Justbecause there are parental controls and blocks on phones and apps doesn’t mean the kid cannot figure out ways around it.
“Let the kid know, ‘If you are going to do this, this is whatcouldhappenifyoudo.’ “I am not doing it to be a meanparentithastodowith your safety.
“And if you don’t want your grandma to find out whatyouaredoing,thenyou shouldn’t be doing it.”
