As families head into Christmas week, the Canandaigua Police Department is reminding parents to take extra steps to keep kids safe online.
Police issued a public service announcement warning that increased screen time during the holidays can raise risks for children using social media, apps, and gaming platforms.
The department encouraged parents to closely monitor internet use and keep computers and devices in open, shared spaces in the home. Officers said children should never share personal information online and should only post photos or details with a parent’s knowledge and consent.
Police also urged parents to regularly check their children’s profiles, posts, and privacy settings. Kids should only connect with people they know in real life and use privacy tools to limit who can view their accounts.
Another key message focused on permanence. Police reminded families that once images or messages go online, control over them is lost and they cannot be taken back.
The department advised parents to talk with kids about strong passwords, appropriate screen names, and thinking carefully before posting or sending messages. Children should not respond to rude, harassing, or threatening messages and should show them to a trusted adult instead.
Police also stressed that online contacts should never turn into in-person meetings without a parent’s knowledge and consent. If a meeting is approved, parents should speak with the other child’s guardians and meet in a public place while supervising.
Finally, officers reminded parents not to overlook cell phones, noting they often have the same capabilities as computers and require the same level of supervision.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].