LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With the school year set to kick off across Arkansas, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) are reminding parents that online threats can be just a click away, especially for children using handheld devices.

From smartphones to gaming consoles, ASP says technology in the hands of children can open doors to dangerous digital interactions, including impersonations, exploitation, and even online enticement by predators. ASP Major Stacie Rhoads say the time to have conversations about online safety is "before" a problem arises.

“It can start with impersonations, conversations with someone pretending to be a best friend,” Rhoads said. “Before it escalates to requests for money or explicit material, parents need to have already talked to their children about staying safe online.”

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