First Look: Louisiana students get new tool to spot predators online
Program simulates chatroom scenarios modeled after real games
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A new online safety program called Playsafe Louisiana is designed to simulate chatroom conversations similar to those found in games popular with kids, including Roblox and Discord. Parkview Baptist Middle School got an exclusive first look at the program.
Simulation shows warning signs
The simulation places students in a chatroom similar to ones found on online platforms. In the simulation, a character called ProGamerX asks other characters’ ages early in the conversation. According to the program, predators collect basic personal information early on to seem closer to the person they are talking to.
The simulated chatroom includes characters representing friends and one outside character who repeatedly tries to isolate the user from the group.
In one scenario, the outside character gives a gift to the user. Students discussed whether the gift was worth reporting to police.
King Edwards, an 8th grader, said a moment felt off when a character asked if they lived near a park and where they lived, noting the character wanted to keep the chats private.
In another scenario, the outside character asks for a photo of the user and asks what they are doing in real life.
School addresses reporting concerns
Parkview Baptist Middle School Principal Karen Spencer said students sometimes do not know what to do after encountering these situations because they fear repercussions with parents for not following the rules. Spencer said schools need to provide a space where students know there is someone they can talk to, pushing toward the school councellor or even her office.
State agency expands program
The Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention is working with schools and after-school programs across the state to implement the safety simulations.
Mary-Kate Andrepont, with the Governor’s Office of Human Trafficking Prevention, compared the effort to hurricane preparedness messaging, saying the office wants people to have a plan and be prepared before a disaster strikes. Andrepont said that same philosophy is built into prevention education resources like PlaySafe Louisiana, with the goal of giving kids a safety plan to mitigate risk online.
PlaySafe will go live across the state for schools to use following the broadcast of this story.
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