Peabody to hold Internet safety seminar next week

PEABODY – Local expert on Internet safety, Katelyn LeClerc, formerly of the Attorney General’s Office, will host a seminar next week at the Higgins Middle School in Peabody with hopes of getting parents to “open up their eyes.””Parents don’t really know how easy it is for kids to get into trouble,” said the 25-year-old frequent user of social networking sites. “It’s kind of a reality shock.”The 90-minute lecture, sponsored by cable giant Comcast, focuses on how parents can protect their children, as well as themselves, from the dangers that exist on the Internet. From sexual predators to identity theft, LeClerc will discuss the many successful ways to prevent such incidents from happening.”My intention is not to say that the Internet is evil,” she said. “We just need to wake up.”LeClerc said that many parents simply aren’t in tune with what their children do while browsing the net, let alone what they could get themselves into. She said the most important thing to do is to be proactive and explore the popular sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, and Xanga, which are frequently used by youths today. She even suggested joining them in effort to keep an eye on what information and photos their children are posting.But, it’s not just the Internet parents have to monitor, warned LeClerc. Cell phones are the latest way for people to fall victim. The seminar will uncover the truths about text messaging and video messaging.The lecture will also target safety for adults. LeClerc said that many young adults often post inappropriate pictures of themselves online under the assumption that only their friends view them.”Employers are now checking MySpace and Facebook before hiring,” she said.The event takes place Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. inside the Higgins auditorium. It’s free and open to the public, although no one under 18-years-old will be allowed in. She encourages residents of nearby communities to attend.”People think, ‘my kid is a good kid. They’ll stay away from stuff like that,'” said LeClerc. “That thought is so, so dangerous. It can happen to anyone, right here in Massachusetts, right here in Peabody.”