This presentation is for parents only due to the nature of the information being shared.

October 19, 2017 – 6:00-7:15pm in the Sunset Elementary Gym.

Project iGuardian is presented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Project iGuardian is an HSI initiative "designed to inform youths, parents, and educators about the risks that children face in the online environment" that also "aims to arm parents with knowledge and resources to help protect their children." HSI, which is the investigative arm of the Dept. of Homeland Security, partnered with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to create much of the presentation.  We also give example scenarios based on our local investigations to help parents, teachers, and other law enforcement better understand how children can become victimized online.   

The following are the three main risks discussed in this presentation:

Online Predators and Social Media - Recent trends and tactics used by adult predators. Includes discussion of the newest apps, online games, and social networks young children, tweens and teens are using.

Revealing too much - Personal and private information shared through texts, images or videos may attract unwanted attention from cyberbullies or online predators. This may also lead to serious offline consequences at school and with the law. Includes discussions about metadata, geolocation, and how apps provide data about users which is especially serious for children and teens.

Cyberbullying - The use of Internet technology or mobile technology, such as cell phones, to bully or harass someone. Discussion into how and why children and teens are heavily affected by this in everyday online life.