Friday, November 8, 2024

Google’s online safety program for kids comes to St. Lucie County Public Schools

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The internet is a constantly evolving place.

Children are hooked on everything from social media to playing games online, but there are more concerns about scammers and predators now than there ever before.

“Our parents thought that the predators were going to be the ones that were nabbing us off the street into the ice cream truck, and now actually, our kids going outside to play is safer than anytime ever,” said Rep. Dana Trabulsy. “What we need to be worried about are the predators that are on the internet.”

With kids now starting to use smart devices at a younger age, Rep. Trabulsy made a big push to get a program into Treasure Coast classrooms to teach the do’s and don’ts of the online world.

Google’s ‘Online Safety Roadshow’ came to the Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie in Fort Pierce, the program’s first destination in our coverage area.

“Programs are so important because we are able to catch the kids at the sixth, seventh, eighth grade range when they’re just starting to build their online profiles and personalities, and try to steer them (to) what are safe places to be online,” explained, Taylor Ferguson, Google’s Southeast Head of Government Affairs. “we want to make sure they’re doing so safely and that we are providing the tools for that.”

The program offered plenty of helpful tips to students.

“If you see something negative posted by an internet troll or cyber bully, the most important thing is: do not engage,” one Google presenter said to the crowd of students Monday. “If you’re ever feeling off or anxious or uncomfortable about what you’re seeing online, that is the time to talk to a trusted adult,” added a second presenter.

Tips like that — in addition to creating strong, unique passwords and how to spot scams — are built into the program to help youngsters in school, but also outside the classroom.

“Hopefully, the students will take this home and share it with their parents because a lot of our families aren’t even awaresome of our students are very techy, and sometimes are a little bit even ahead of some of us adults,” shared Jane Whitaker, the Principal at the Creative Arts Academy of St. Lucie. “We know that this is a major issue for our students nowadays.”

With web-based technology, apps and social media being cemented into more children’s lives every day, avoiding dangers that can come with them is becoming every bit as crucial.

“I think our entire state and country needs more of this,” Rep. Trabulsy opined. “We have to protect our children at all costs.”

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