Cyber Crimes: What To Do As A Parent

As students spend more time online with classwork, the risk of cyber crimes against children increases.

The TBI has received more than 450 tips about potential internet crimes against children this year. Cookeville Police Captain Bobby Anderson said a relationship with your child is the most important part of cyber safety.

“You are not able to monitor your kid’s activities 100 percent of the time,” Anderson said. “However, you can foster a relationship with your child where they will feel comfortable with coming to you if they are approached online with any inappropriate material.”

Anderson said parents should tell children they will not be disciplined for reporting any suspicious online behavior. Anderson said chat rooms are popular sites for predators, but any website with children can be targeted.

“Any where a child may be,” Anderson said. “And, what I mean by that is someone that is wanting to harm a child or exploit a child online is typically going to be where that child is at. There are so many sites out there for children to be. It is hard to determine which site is safe.”

The Cookeville Police Department is an affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Anderson said the Internet changes everyday and monitoring software is only good if it is updated.

“You can set security settings on your computer. You can buy software that may monitor some activities and may filter some of that out,” Anderson said. “But, keep in mind that material across the Internet is new everyday.”

The 450 tips mirrored a 93 percent increase in cyber crimes against children nationally.