MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) - As children spend more time online during summer break, the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office is reminding families about the importance of internet safety and encouraging parents to attend an educational webinar focused on online risks facing children.

June is recognized as Internet Safety Month, and the sheriff’s office, along with its partners at the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, is urging parents and guardians to have open conversations with their children about staying safe online.

Officials shared a simple but important message for children: “You Don’t Owe Strangers a Response.”

According to the sheriff’s office, while stranger danger has long been a concern, the internet has made it easier for predators to reach children through social media platforms, online gaming, messaging apps and other digital spaces.

The agency encourages parents to remind children not to communicate with people they do not know and to report suspicious online interactions to a trusted adult.

As part of its Internet Safety Month outreach, the sheriff’s office is promoting a public webinar scheduled for June 23 at 2 p.m. The webinar will focus on video games and children, highlighting potential online risks, warning signs and red flags parents should be aware of while monitoring their child’s gaming activity.

Law enforcement officials say the webinar is designed to help parents better understand the digital environments their children may encounter and provide tools to help keep them safe online.

The sheriff’s office encourages parents and guardians to participate in the webinar and continue having regular conversations about responsible internet use throughout the summer.

Officials said community awareness and parental involvement remain key factors in protecting children from online threats.

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