FORT MCMURRAY — Alberta RCMP are encouraging parents and caregivers to rethink how they talk with children about online safety.
Rather than focusing on monitoring everything a young person does online, police say the goal should be creating an environment where children feel comfortable speaking up when something does not feel right.
The RCMP says open-ended, curiosity-driven questions can help build trust and make it easier for young people to talk about their online experiences before small concerns become more serious.
Police are suggesting parents replace questions that can sound accusatory with ones designed to start a conversation.
Instead of asking a child what they are doing on their phone all the time, parents can ask which app is their favourite right now.
Rather than telling a child they spend too much time online, police suggest asking what they like most about being online.
The RCMP also recommends asking whether anyone has ever made them feel uncomfortable online, whether someone has asked them something that did not feel right, and what they think is safe to share online.
Police say the approach is intended to make online safety an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time warning.
The message is part of an Alberta RCMP parent safety campaign encouraging adults to use conversation as a first line of defence when helping children navigate social media, messaging apps and other online spaces.
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