COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is encouraging families to supervise children’s online activity to keep them safe. Teachers say this is especially important in the summertime because kids’ screen time typically increases.

Investigators at the sheriff’s office said that many cases of predation start with seemingly innocent chats on online games or apps. In these chats, kids often assume they are talking to someone their age, when really, it could be anyone behind the other screen.

There are currently 101 active and 47 incarcerated sex offenders in Coffee County, according to CCSO Detective Chris Wilson. CCSO said those numbers are constantly changing as offenders move, are arrested or are released.

Brianna Suggs, who is a teacher in Coffee County, said children don’t always see the danger in chatting or playing video games with strangers, so she advises families to check in with their kids.

“Check in with them — even if it’s just simply, ‘Hey, let me see who you’re talking to.’ Or if you come across them playing video games and hear them talking, say, ‘Oh, who you talking to?’ Just be mindful and have that connection with your child,” Suggs said.

Both Wilson and Suggs stressed that simple conversations and supervision can make a difference.

WALB’s Taylor Lewis will have more in later newscasts.

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