STANTON, Va. (WHSV) – February 6th is Internet Safety Day, and online safety is a popular topic among parents of children and teens.
On Wednesday, January 31st, the CEOs of some of the most popular social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, testified before Congress in child safety hearings, garnering national attention. Several parents, advocates and lawmakers said companies are not doing enough to protect minors from sex offenders, exploitation, bullying and mental health issues.
Meanwhile, local authorities are urging parents to stay informed about the risks of social media.
“Because social media and the internet both offer anonymity, some people feel like they can do things on social media that they wouldn’t normally do,” said Sergeant Butch Shifflett of the Staunton Police Department. . “There can be a lack of accountability. When that happens, people feel empowered to bully others or solicit information from others.”
Sergeant Shiflett said it was important for parents and families to do their research and be aware of age restrictions on social media sites. Because social media feeds are personalized to specific users, she also recommends spending time on the platforms your children use and monitoring your children’s online activities.
Sgt Shiflett said: “They should go to their websites and social media platforms and see what is being shared there via them,” adding: “They should monitor that activity and keep it up to date. We should get the information.” All of these sites have built-in algorithms that are tailored to what is viewed on those phones, so you should actually look at your child’s account to see what he or she is looking at. . ”
Safer Internet Day encourages people to use the internet responsibly.
Copyright 2024 WHSV. All rights reserved.
