Conference aims to keep kids safe online

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - One in 25 children has received an online sexual solicitation where the potential predator also tried to reach the child offline, according to a national study. That’s the sort of thing a conference Thursday in Indianapolis was looking to prevent.

Education and law enforcement officials from around the state attended the day-long event focused on the dangers of Internet social networking for children. It was headed up by U.S. District Attorney Joseph Hogsett’s office to share the most up-to-date information about online threats to children.

With smartphones and other mobile Internet devices, it’s easier than ever for predators to reach kids.

Hogsett the bottom line is that parents should always be aware of whom their child is in contact with online.

"The danger begins when you start to talk and get on those networks … where there's anonymous chat rooms and other forms of communication that you're really not sure who's on the other end of the line,” he said.