Rutherford County, TN - In today’s social media focused society, it is no wonder that children and teens feel so comfortable talking to strangers online. This holds especially true if they see posts made by a parent that garners likes and comments from adults they have never heard of. Children, not understanding the dangers of the internet combined with the strategies of ill intended adults, unknowingly fall victim to online predators they may see as safe on apps like SnapChat, TikTok, Instagram or FaceBook. Sadly, once that conversation begins through a social media app – the person your child is talking to may turn dangerous quicker than one might imagine.
Parents need to know who their children are talking to online and that may mean having uncomfortable conversations with your child. Detective Austin Mobbs with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office warned… Child predators have traveled to Rutherford County from other states to meet local children and teens they’ve met through social media. As a result, Mobbs confirmed…
To combat child predators, Detective Mobbs and Sgt. Gary Herron with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office have designed a new program that is called, “The Social Media Secrets: What Your Kids Know, But Don’t Want You to Know.” The program is designed to educate parents about the dangers lurking in the palm of nearly every child's hand… The officers say their goal is to give parents a better understanding of how to prevent their children from becoming a victim.
If you would like to learn more about the new program or if you’d like to have Detective Mobbs or Sgt. Herron speak to your group or organization, you can contact Sgt. Herron by emailing him at gherron@rcsotn.org. You can also reach Herron by phone at 615-904-3019.
