Amherst Police are sharing online safety tips for families as students in Amherst, Nova Scotia prepare to return to school. The department is encouraging parents and children to review simple steps to stay safe while using the internet.
Police recommend that kids avoid sharing personal information online, be cautious when talking to strangers, and tell a parent or guardian if something feels wrong. If a child is approached by someone online who asks for real information or does anything to disturb them, they should report it right away.
The Amherst Police Department can be reached at 902-667-8600 for non-emergency matters, and 911 should be called in an emergency. The department has a long history of working with local schools, including a full-time School Resource Officer position established in 2009 and a Crime Prevention Officer who gives Internet Safety presentations.
These tips come as the Nova Scotia RCMP also reminds students and parents to be careful online. The RCMP says kids should not accept friend requests from people they don’t know, and warns that once a picture or video is sent over the internet or through a phone, the sender no longer controls who sees it or where it goes.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to talk with their children about these online safety habits before the school year begins.
