TAMPA, Fla. — Remote learning has kids spending more time than ever before.
With that in mind, the FBI says now is a good time to talk to your kids about internet safety.
ABC Action News spoke with an FBI agent who says parents should be careful about letting your kids use apps with a chat function.
That includes social media and gaming apps.
Kevin Kaufman with the FBI's Tampa Office says these apps give criminals and predators an easy way to reach young people.
When we were younger, you never just dropped your kids off at a playground saying, 'Hey, I'll be back in an hour. Don't get in trouble.' And a lot of parents put their kids online and they're not familiar with the applications their kids are accessing."
Kaufman suggests getting familiar with the website, apps and games your kids enjoy.
Also, set rules about when your kids can go online. For example, allow your kids to only use the computer in a common area that's easier to supervise.
Furthermore, make sure they are wary about talking to anyone online, especially someone they don't know.
