Central Okanagan Public Schools, along with the Kelowna RCMP, are encouraging parents to take particular interests in what children may be viewing online or what they’re using their smartphones for.
According to a news release by Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Terry-Lee Beaudry, local schools have received concerned calls regarding the MOMO Challenge, which has resurfaced on social media platforms. The challenge is a reported to be a hoax with malicious intentions to cause upset and alarm.
“The Kelowna RCMP continues to promote internet safety (and) encourages all parents to teach their children when to block, delete, or report, disturbing images or videos that they may encounter online,” said Cst. Lesley Smith in the release.
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Helpful tips for parents when it comes to internet safety.
- Get to know what your child does online and teach them to be safe – they need to know how to deal with inappropriate material and how to protect themselves from predators.
- Keep the computer in a common area or have them use personal devices in your company.
- Warn your child not to give personal information to a stranger online.
- Contact local law enforcement if you believe your child is being blackmailed or extorted online.
- Tell your child to ignore messages from people they don’t recognize and not to visit someone in person that they met online or via text.
Central Okanagan Public Schools emphasize internet safety, digital citizenship, and cyber-bullying awareness throughout the K- 12 curriculum.
More information can be found at bcrcmp.com and at the B.C. website.
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