STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – February 6th is Safer Internet Day, and online safety is a popular topic among parents of children and teenagers.
On Wednesday, January 31st, chief executives of the most popular social media companies – including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat – testified before Congress in a child safety hearing that captured national attention. Several parents, advocates and lawmakers said the companies weren’t doing enough to protect minors from sexual predators, exploitation, bullying and mental health issues.
Meanwhile, local authorities are reminding parents to remain informed of the risks of social media.
“Both social media and the internet provide a sense of anonymity, so that makes some people feel that they may be able to do things on social media that they wouldn’t normally do,” said Sergeant Butch Shifflett of the Staunton Police Department. “There may be a lack of accountability. When that happens, people feel empowered to bully others or try to solicit information from others.”
Sergeant Shifflett said it’s important for parents and family members to do their research, and they should be mindful of age restrictions on social media sites. Since social media feeds are catered to each specific user, he also urges to spend time on the platforms their children use and monitor their children’s online activity.
”They should get on the website or the social media platform, go through there and see what’s being shared on there” said Sergeant Shifflett, “They should monitor that activity, so they keep up to date with them. All these sites have an algorithm geared towards what’s viewed on those phones, so they need to actually look at the child’s account and see what that person’s looking at.”
Safer Internet Day encourages people to use the internet responsibly.
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Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
