ORANGE PARK — The internet is one of the most powerful ways to communicate. 

Reaching 5.56 billion users worldwide, it promotes an endless range of possibilities — including a breeding ground for trouble, especially with young children. 

According to FBI Jacksonville, thousands of children become the victims of online predators every year. From sextortion to terrorism, their vulnerability could cause them to become wrapped up in the dangerous world of the internet. 

It all starts with a single smartphone.

A Common Sense Census reported that 40% of children have a tablet by the age of 2, and nearly one in four have a personal cell phone by the age of 8. 

For this reason, in a collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Jacksonville and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the school district hosted a special event Feb. 27 dedicated to giving parents the essentials to keep their children safe while online. 

The “Be Smart with Your Kid’s Smartphone” seminar, held at Ridgeview High School, featured multiple presentations from those who investigate crimes against children firsthand. From hearing about local real-life cases to a Q&A session, the thought-provoking event fostered much discussion.

Here are some highlights:

• The FBI said they have seen an increase in the number of sextortion cases involving children and teens. This crime happens when a victim is threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online, by either someone they know or a complete stranger. It can happen on any website or social media app and could also be financially based. 

The institution recommends that parents/guardians stay up to date on what apps and sites their child is using, whether by placing usage limits or spot-checking. They also said to always keep the lines of communication open with your child. 

• Pay attention to what apps your child has on their devices. The presenters said that decoy apps are a popular way for children to hide what they are doing online. According to McAfee, these apps may look like a normal calculator or photo editing app; however, with the entry of a password they could host secret photos, videos, audio recordings and text messages. Some Android and iPhone apps to look out for include Secret Calculator, Magic Box, Private Photos and PhotoVault. 

• One presenter noted that terrorism is another threat. Communication apps could also connect children with terrorist organizations. With the help of social media, these organizations have unlimited access to those living in the United States, making it easier for them to encourage violence to vulnerable children. According to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, juveniles are represented in approximately 4% of the FBI’s international terrorism investigations — influenced heavily by the content they see online. The presenter noted common indicators to tell if your child could be involved, including praising or researching to emulate past successful attackers, advocating for violent extremist ideology and changing of vocabulary to reflect a hardened point of view or isolation. 

• In addition, the presentation featured a list of smartphone alternatives for younger children. Such phones allow for them to communicate with family and friends but don’t pose the same risks as regular phones. Some options include the Gizmo Watch, which allows for two-way voice calling and messaging with up to 10 trusted contacts of your choice, as well as GPS functions; the Light Phone 2, which includes calling and texting but doesn’t have feeds, social media, advertisements, news or email; or, the Wisephone II, which has no internet browser, streaming, social media, apps or ads.