New way for parents to be educated for kids' online safety

Do your children have apps on their phones that you don’t know anything about and they tell you that it’s no big deal? There’s now a way to find out more about those apps and to help your children stay away from online predators.

And it comes in the form of a podcast.

The Protect Kids Online Podcast, created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, will allow parents to have a better feel for what their kids are doing on their phones.

Justin Patchin, a Criminal Justice professor at UW-Eau Claire that specializes in cybercrimes, says parents are the first line of defense for their kids online.

“Sometimes parents don't know what their kids are doing online and the information in the podcast could be a good conversation starter used to approach these issues with their kids,” Patchin said.

In the biweekly podcast, educators inform listeners of apps that their children may be using that could be dangerous.

“They might hear something in the podcast about a site or an app they didn't know about and talk about it with their kids,” Patchin said. “Do you know this app? Do you use this app?”

But Patchin says if the podcast doesn’t have any spice to keep the information new and fresh, the podcast may not catch a following.

“I don’t think parents are going to subscribe to a podcast where they are just lectured to for 20 minutes,” Patchin said. “It has to be entertaining, instructional educational and useful and helpful to parents.”

The podcast is designed for parents to listen and learn ways to protect your children from strangers, but is it not giving the kids enough privacy?

“Parents and grandparents should always keep an eye on their kids I suppose,” Seth Berrier of Menomonie said, “but sometimes they should be given some reign to explore some things on their own.”

Patchin says it has the potential of giving good information to those who would use it to help their kids’ safety.

MADISON, Wis. (RELEASE) -- The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation launched a new tool this week for parents, grandparents, guardians, educators, and others concerned about internet safety.

The Protect Kids Online Podcast is a biweekly production featuring information about the trends and updates on the latest smartphone apps, websites, and online activity of children 17 years of age and younger.

“The internet is a tool that provides society great opportunities for education, progress, and efficiency, but it also provides child predators easy access to our children,” said Attorney General Schimel. “The new Protect Kids Online Podcast will give parents and guardians the information they need to stay a step ahead of their children and the criminals preying on them.”

The Protect Kids Online Podcast was created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Podcast topics include: activities of the Wisconsin ICAC Task Force, app of the week, tips and methods for combating online child exploitation and sextortion, internet safety laws, cyberbullying, healthy online habits, protecting your child from strangers online, safe sharing tips, and responses to listener questions.

To listen to the latest Protect Kids Online Podcast,

or download the podcast on iTunes or Google Play.