An outreach program that includes the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations has tips to help youth stay safe online as the 2022-23 academic year begins.
Project iGuardian, a partnership of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s NetSmartz and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces and HSI, has a team that reminds parents and educators to help kids become aware of potential online threats and to encourage them to inform a trusted adult of unsavory online behavior, a news release said.
“While parents remain the best defense in keeping their children safe online, we want to emphasize that educators also play a significant role in expanding routine conversations with kids about exercising safe online behaviors,” Child Exploitation Investigations Unit Chief Erin Burke said in the release. “Whether using the internet for homework and projects, playing games or leisurely browsing, parents and educators need to remind kids to be aware of potential threats and encourage them to tell a trusted adult the moment someone makes them feel uncomfortable online. Online exploitation comes in so many forms – stopping this requires victims to come forward so those criminals can be investigated and brought to justice.”
Project iGuardian suggests having parents and educators conduct regular conversations about online safety, letting youth know they can report uncomfortable online situations, reviewing “web-capable applications and games before they are downloaded” and ensuring privacy settings are for electronic devices such as mobile apps and online gaming systems at the strictest level possible, according to the release.
Reports of suspicious activity or instances of child sexual exploitation should be given to local law enforcement, the release said.
