Parents, do you know what your children are doing on their phones?

This modern age of hand-held computers and social media has opened children and teenagers to bullying, online predators and other threats and issues.

To help educate parents, Maui Police Department’s Marvin Tevaga, the National School Resource Officer of the Year, will lead the workshop “Parent Social Media Awareness” in the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria on Thursday, March 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Topics to be covered at this PARENTS ONLY forum include what keiki are up to on their phones, protecting them from online predators, an introduction to the “Dark Web,” what to look for on your child’s phone and how to navigate social media.

In a recent letter to the LIS community, Complex Area Superintendent Lindsay Ball offered good tips for parents regarding their children’s online activity.

“Parents can ask their child whether they have seen anything online that has upset or worried them, and explain that there are often things that happen online that can be misleading or frightening, and that some things are solely designed to get a lot of attention,” he wrote.

“It’s also recommended that parents review the online safety and security features on their child’s devices. With many students having online access on their own devices, parents are encouraged to be proactive and foster an atmosphere of openness and transparency about their child’s online activity.”

If today’s Internet and social media are mysterious to you, attend Thursday’s workshop to find out what students are doing online.