As students return to the classroom and log online using tablets, smartphones, computers, and gaming platforms, the Calgary Police Service is issuing a public reminder to help parents build strong digital safety habits with their children.
In a recent social media post, Calgary Police outlined key reminders for parents to discuss with youth as screen time increases:
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Protect Personal Information: Teach children never to post or share full names, home addresses, phone numbers, school names, or passwords online.
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Limit Interaction to Known Contacts: Encourage children to interact and play online games exclusively with people they know in real life.
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Report Uncomfortable Content: Remind youth to speak with a trusted adult immediately if they encounter anything online that makes them feel scared, confused, or uncomfortable.
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Practice Digital Kindness: Discuss online respect and encourage children to treat others with the same courtesy as they would face-to-face.
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Think Before Posting: Help children understand that online content and photos are extremely difficult to permanently remove once shared.
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Secure Passwords: Create strong passwords together and emphasize that they should never be shared, even with close friends.
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Check Before Clicking: Instruct children to ask an adult before clicking on unfamiliar links, downloads, or pop-ups.
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Supervise Device Use: Place computers and digital devices in common areas of the home to monitor online activity more easily.
Police emphasize that parental involvement remains one of the most effective tools in ensuring children navigate the digital world safely as the new school year begins.