By Brandy Cook

Rowan County District Attorney

SALISBURY — As summer comes to a close and children return to school, parents should be proactive when it comes to protecting their children in the community.

I believe it is vital to stay involved in your child’s life. What activities are they involved in? Who are their friends? How much time are they spending on their computer or smart phone? What are they able to access on their computer or smart phone?.

Internet and digital images: Technology has advanced in the past decade to where most parents and children alike have cellphones capable of accessing the internet and taking photographs. Popular sites for children to communicate with others include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Kik.

Parents should speak with their children about the dangers of taking sexual photos and/or sharing them with others. Once a photograph is shared with others, it can be posted on websites or even altered. Internet predators are sophisticated and prey on our children. Be proactive in monitoring your child’s text messages, emails, photographs, Internet and cellphone activity.

For information on how to protect your family from inappropriate websites, including parental controls to minimize a child’s access to certain websites, go to www.opendns.com/home-internet-security.

Cyberbullying: Bullying can quickly spiral out of control and negatively affect a child emotionally, physically and mentally.

What should you do if you believe your child is being bullied on the internet or at school? Contact the school administration and law enforcement immediately.

Visit www.netsmartz.org for online safety tools for educators, parents and children. Additional resources on this topic include www.stopbullying.gov and www.ncpublicschools.org/cfss/bullying-prevention/resources.

Sex offenders: It is important for families to know where a registered sex offender is living in their community. Fortunately, this information is easily accessible. Resources available to parents include:

• The North Carolina Sex Offender Registry: http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov.

• Parents can sign up to receive email alerts when a sex offender registers at an address near your residence or at your child’s school. Go to http://signup.ncsbi.gov.

• Parents can receive telephone alert notifications by calling 1-877-627-2826 or visiting ncsavan.org.

• A sex offender registry app is available for users of Apple and Android at http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov.

Additional resources: For concerns involving cellphones, cyberbullying, chat rooms, computer stalking, file sharing, gaming, internet safety, webcams, predators, social networking, and sexting, go to www.netsmartz.org and http://www.ncdoj.gov/Protect-Yourself/Protect-Children.aspx.

SPK UP NC is a pilot school safety program for students that enables them to send anonymous tips about school safety concerns from an app they can download on their phone, IPad, Mac book, or other mobile and web based technology. Go to www.ncpublicschools.org/cfss/spkup-nc.