A free community program aimed at helping families better understand the risks children face online will be held later this month at Gettysburg Area High School.
The event, titled “Keeping Kids Safe from Hidden Digital Dangers,” is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the Gettysburg Area High School auditorium, located at 1130 Old Harrisburg Road in Gettysburg.
The program will feature a presentation by FBI Special Agent Geoffrey Ford, who will discuss the evolving threats facing children and teenagers online. The session is designed to help parents, caregivers, and community members better recognize digital risks and learn strategies to protect young people in an increasingly connected world.
Topics are expected to include online safety concerns affecting youth, including social media risks, digital exploitation and emerging online threats that law enforcement agencies are seeing across the country.
Organizers say the goal of the event is to provide practical information that families can use to start conversations with children and teens about safe online behavior while understanding the warning signs of potential danger.
The evening will begin with a resource fair at 5:30 p.m., giving attendees an opportunity to connect with local organizations and learn about services available to families in the community. Light refreshments will be provided.
Free childcare will also be available during the event to make it easier for parents to attend.
The program is being presented as a community education effort focused on increasing awareness about digital safety issues affecting young people. Organizers say the presentation is intended for parents, guardians, educators, and anyone interested in helping keep children safe online.
In addition to the presentation, the Gettysburg Area Education Foundation will provide the first 100 registered Gettysburg Area School District families with a free copy of the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book explores the impact of smartphones and social media on young people and has sparked national conversations about youth mental health and technology use.
Community leaders say the program comes at a time when families are navigating rapidly changing technology and online environments that can expose children to new types of risks.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.
Residents can register in advance at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMYKqJy7I0Y5kKipeUpmRAYf1BUCNMpXzQQFqy190GVVwqeg/viewform
Source: Gettysburg Area Education Foundation