Michigan State Police Helping Parents Keep Their Kids Safe When Using Technology

Michigan State Police are sharing technology trends so parents and kids don’t find themselves in the same situation.

“You can get into financial crimes where kids are making in-app purchases. Their parents don’t realize they have their credit card, and they’re actually spending exorbitant amounts of money on these games,” said Lt. Josh Lator, Michigan State Police. “They can make contact with people who may use gaming or other online social networks as a way to groom children to, unfortunately, victimize them in different ways. “

Lt. Lator says it’s important to know what apps your children use.

“Any app that allows your child to communicate with other people as the parent, you want to go on there. See what access does the other person have? Can you restrict who they talk to and have a list of people they can talk to you? You know, is it just texting? Is it video? Is it audio? Can the person on the other end actually record that conversation,” said Lt. Lator.

“The fears of having social media is just scary because you don’t know who’s out there, who’s watching them,” said Janet Willoughby, parent.

Lt. Lator says having open communication about technology with your kids is best to keep them safe.

“It’s just simply this being an active, engaged parent, have communication with your child, be involved with their life, look at what they’re using,” said Lt. Lator. “Don’t scare them away from technology, but teach them like any other tool in the house. It’s like a knife in the kitchen. It has a sharp edge. It’s a good, safe tool. But if you use it wrong, it can cut you.”

Michigan State Police also recommend limiting the amount of screen time.

“There was a football coach that used to say to his athletes, nothing good happens after midnight. I say nothing good happens when technology leaves the kitchen,” said Lator.

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