Police recommend vigilance on #SaferInternetDay

In what has become a global movement to promote safe and responsible online use of technology, #SaferInternetDay is recognized Feb. 11, and is primarily geared towards protecting children. Danny Hicks, commander of the Southeast Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force, said he feels the importance of Internet safety can’t be overstated.

“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t recommend kids having access to any app where they can communicate with strangers,” Hicks remarked. “That can open the door to lots of problems.”

Hicks has served in his current role for the past 10 years, and said he has seen the problem of predators contacting children through apps worsen incrementally each year.

“I mean, the purpose of most apps is for making contact/communication,” Hicks noted. “The evolution of these apps and kids getting access to them is concerning.”

As part of the #SaferInternetDay, a list of apps  — and their potential hazards — has been released to keep parents informed. Among those listed apps are:

• Snapchat allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after they’re received, but pictures aren’t completely deleted from devices and users can take a screenshot before an image vanishes.

• Skout is a location-based dating app and website. While users under 17 are unable to share private photos, kids can easily create an account using a different age.

• X is a networking site for public conversations or direct messages. It has also been used for bullying or harassment.

• Omegle lets users chat with strangers through text or video in real time, with no registration required. While it can be used for casual conversations, users have reported encountering inappropriate content, cyberbullying, explicit material, and even predatory behavior.

• Instagram is a photo and video sharing app. Profiles can be public allowing anyone to see or comment. Teens can create fake accounts to hide content and use the messaging feature.

• Roblox is an online gaming platform where users can play games designed by others or create and share their own. Be aware of in-app purchases, chat features, adult “condo games,” and the use of in-game signs to communicate if chat is blocked.

• Kik allows anyone to contact and direct message your child. Kids can bypass traditional text messaging features. KIK gives users unlimited access to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

• Discord allows users to talk to friends or strangers in real-time via voice, text or video chats while playing games. Users have seen racial slurs, explicit content, cyberbullying and more.

Hicks said those apps, as well as many others, should be strictly monitored.

“Two apps that I would completely eliminate would be Snapchat and Kik,” Hicks remarked. “Those apps allow unrestricted access between a kid and predators who could seek them out.”

Hicks said he would also like to see minors limited to the Kids Only version of YouTube.

“It isn’t so much that kids are getting contacted through YouTube,” Hicks explained. “But kids have started posting really inappropriate videos on there.”

Hicks said he believes parents should openly communicate with their children and share passwords.

“There are some really good parental monitoring/tracking apps that can be used,” Hicks recommended. “I can’t say that any one is better over another. Many of them do good things like letting parents see what websites are being visited and messages that are coming in and going out.”

Hicks said parents should remain vigilant as they monitor their children’s activities online, in order to avoid future problems.

“If it was up to me, kids would only have the option of communicating with someone face-to-face,” Hicks said. “Parents just need to be more vocal and involved with what their kids are doing.”