This month’s session, “Predatory Relationships in the Suburbs,” examines how predators exploit young people’s trust, online and right here in our own communities.
SAFE’s Diversion Facilitator Mikaela Weinstein and Detective Jack Flynn of the Franklin Police Department will unpack what we teach young people about trusted adults, how that framework can be twisted into inappropriate and predatory relationships, and how these exchanges play out on online platforms. Drawing on Mikaela’s work with Diversion students and data from the Police Department, they’ll share what’s happening locally and what parents can do about it.
You’ll come away with:
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A young adult’s perspective on how these relationships form
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Which online platforms are most often used to target young people
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Practical tips for internet and social media monitoring and safety
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Insight into how prevalent this issue is in our area, drawn from police department data
This session is especially valuable for parents and caregivers of adolescents and younger children, and for teens themselves.