By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance, in partnership with Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Brandon Schools, is hosting a family education workshop on internet safety, with speaker detective John Elges.
“You never know who you’re talking to on the other end. A lot of the time, the person you think you’re talking to is not the actual person you’re talking to, and that’s who your children could be talking to,” said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Brandon substation Sergeant Shawn Werner. “Children are able to get manipulated into doing things they shouldn’t be doing, such as giving up personal information or sensitive information.
The workshop will be held at Brandon Middle School in the KIVA for parents, teachers, grandparents, law enforcement, college students or anyone who is interested in learning about internet trends, cyber bullying, social media and what to look out for to keep children safe, as well as basic laws that may apply.
“It gives parents a basic understanding of the drawbacks and even benefits of using the portable technology today,” said Elges. “It’s basic things that they (parents) can do to prevent their child from becoming a victim, and ways to monitor what their children are doing, ways to prevent kids from hiding things.”
The program will be 6:30 p.m., Nov. 20 with refreshments beforehand at 6 p.m. To register, call BGYA at 248-627-1800 ext. 1717. Enter the middle school through the gym door entrance at the back of the building.