SABINE PARISH — The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office is encouraging parents to stay informed about the apps and online platforms their children use, sharing information from the Alliance to Fight Human Trafficking in Southwest Louisiana about online safety and child protection.
According to the organization, human traffickers and online predators often use popular apps, games, and social media platforms to contact and groom children. They may pose as another child and offer gifts, friendship, or support before attempting to exploit or manipulate them.
Parents are encouraged to help protect their children by:
Knowing what apps are installed on their devices.
Reviewing privacy and location-sharing settings on those apps.
Talking regularly with children about online safety and the dangers of communicating with strangers.
Monitoring friend requests and online interactions.
Teaching children never to share personal information, photos, or their location with someone they only know online.
Reminding children they can always talk to a trusted adult if something online makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
The information shared by the Sheriff’s Office also highlights several apps and platforms that parents should be familiar with, including:
Roblox
TikTok
Calculator% (vault app)
Snapchat
MocoSpace
Monkey
WhatsApp
HOLLA
Discord
Wizz
Bumble
Hily
Kik
LiveMe
Skout
Yubo
DOWN
MeetMe
Zoosk
Badoo
Grindr
Whisper
Best Secret Folder (vault app)
The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office said awareness, open communication, and staying involved are among the best ways parents can help keep their children safe online.
Officials also encouraged residents to share the information with other parents to help educate families and promote online safety for children.