Kids work on on computers at a Lake Highlands after-school program. Photo by Can Turkyilmaz
The Forest Meadow Junior High PTA, in an attempt to keep young teens safe from online predators, cyberbullies, identity theft and other dangers, is hosting a program called NETSMARTZ. It’s a workshop for parents created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and it will be led by folks brought in from the Texas PTA.
The statistics are frightening – one in five children will receive a sexual solicitation online. Most kids – 75% – are willing to share personal information about themselves or their family in exchange for goods or services.
The workshop, to be held Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m. in the FMJH library, will help parents understand the dangers and deal with issues such as sexting, blogging, webcams, cellphones and chat rooms. Parents will learn to engage and empower children to be safer online.
The program will follow a brief PTA meeting.
