“Cyber Cop,” Clayton Cranford, a law enforcement professional and one of the nation’s leading educators on social media, will kick off the Families Connected Speaker Series on Monday, September 17, at 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Community Center.
Parents will learn about the risks and benefits of digital technology in today's age as well as tips on how to talk with their children about their online reputation.
On average, teenagers spend nine hours per day on social media. Research published in Clinical Psychological Science says that increases in teen depression and suicide rates after 2010 are linked to increased time spent on new media.
To address the concern, the Cyber Cop event will focus on Parenting in the Digital World. As a follow up to the keynote, middle and high school Beach Cities students will participate in 15 assemblies focused on cyber safety. Parents will be invited to attend smaller hands-on workshops where they will learn to safeguard their child’s devices and receive one-on-one support.
Through the various events and activities, Beach Cities Health District will continue to address the mental health and well-being of Beach Cities students. According to the California Healthy Kids Survey, when compared to students throughout California, Beach Cities teens report:
- Higher than average rates of cyberbullying, peaking in 7th grade
- 16 percent of 11th graders reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past 12 months
The Families Connected Speaker Series is a free event presented by Beach Cities Health District, South Bay Families Connected, Redondo Beach Unified School District, Hermosa Beach City School District and Manhattan Beach Unified School District. This presentation is for parents only, and childcare is available through AdventurePlex.
