Cyber safety expert warns parents about online risks

CAVE CITY, Ky. (WNKY) — Children may know their way around a smartphone, social media app or gaming system better than their parents. Michael Lemon says that is exactly why parents need to understand what can happen once their children are online.

Lemon, founder of Cyber Safe School, spoke with parents and community members Thursday night at the Cave Area Conference Center in Cave City about social media, gaming and online predators. Earlier in the day, he met with elementary, middle and high school students to talk about staying safe and recognizing warning signs.

Kids are growing up online. Parents are catching up.

For many parents, Lemon said, the problem is not a lack of concern. It is that their children are growing up with technology they never experienced at the same age.

“Parents don’t know what to look for. They don’t know what the dangers are, the pitfalls,” Lemon said.

That can make decisions about phones, apps and other technology difficult. A child may want the same access as friends and classmates, but Lemon said parents should consider whether the child is ready for it.

He understands that saying no can be difficult. Lemon has five children of his own.

“But in ten years from now, 15 years from now, I’d rather have my kid thank me for not letting them go too far, then having the alternative in what can happen there,” he said.

Lemon suggested gradually increasing a child’s access to technology rather than immediately giving them an unrestricted phone. His approach can begin with no phone, followed by a watch, then a heavily regulated phone before eventually moving to a full device.

The concern starts at a young age

Lemon said children are gaining access to connected devices early, including first- and second-graders using hand-me-down phones.

He saw that firsthand during his elementary school presentation Thursday. When Lemon asked students who had Snapchat or YouTube, he said more than half raised their hands for at least one of the apps. Many had two or three social media apps.

At the same time, Lemon pointed to what he described as a sharp increase in exploitation reports. He said reported cases rose from around 40,000 in 2020 to 1.4 million last year.

Social media is only part of his concern. Gaming can also put children in contact with people they do not know, and Lemon said much of that communication takes place through audio rather than text.

That is why he wants parents to move beyond the idea that their child simply would not talk to a stranger.

“It’s not if it’s when they will meet predators, if they’re going to be online, they’re gonna be on gaming systems,” Lemon said. “They’re 100%. They’re going to meet predators whether it exploited or not. That’s a different story.”

Make sure kids know what happens next

Keeping a child completely away from every online risk may not be realistic. Lemon’s message instead focused heavily on preparation — making sure children recognize a problem and know exactly what to do when one occurs.

He recommends families establish rules for technology before there is an issue. That can include when devices may be used, how they may be used and what a child should do if someone sends a threatening or sexually explicit message.

If that happens, Lemon said the child should stop communicating with the person. Parents should contact police rather than continuing the conversation themselves.

But there is another piece Lemon considers important: children need to believe they can actually tell their parents.

“If they know if this happens, number one, contact Mom and Dad and they know if they do that, they’re not going to be in trouble,” he said.

And parents who now wonder whether they handed over too much technology too soon do not have to leave things that way. Lemon said they can set new limits, even knowing the change may not be popular.

“Is it going to be a fight? Is it going to be a discomfort to them? Absolutely,” Lemon said. “But there’s a bigger discomfort that you could be avoiding.”