By Shaun Penner

48-hour Challenge

RCMP preach online safety amid “48-hour Challenge” rumours

Mar 29, 2019 | 6:22 PM

Alberta RCMP are reminding parents to be aware of their child’s online activity, as allegations surrounding the “48-hour challenge” continue with recent missing children’s cases across the province.

The social media challenge dares youth to go missing for 48-hours, earning them more points based on the number of times they are mentioned while they are missing.

Corporal Chris Warren with the Alberta RCMP says that this is more of a public service announcement, and recent missing children’s cases don’t necessarily have any ties to this challenge in the Peace Country or across the province.

“Investigations on current and recent missing youth’s files haven’t revealed any link to this ’48-hour Challenge’,” said Warren. “This is more information to share with parents that there is suggestions of it being out there on social media, although we haven’t confirmed any in Alberta at this time.”

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Some tips the RCMP provide for parents to help keep their kids safe include:

• Set rules for what your kids can and can’t do online.
• Teach your kids to check with you before downloading anything.
• Set the expectation that you will monitor children’s use of devices.
• Use parental controls.
• Discuss what children can share online.
• Keep open lines of communication.
• Encourage kids to talk to you if something makes them feel uncomfortable.

Warren also recommends keeping all internet connected devices in an open area of the home, so parents can more easily monitor what kids are looking at online.

“We don’t want youth putting themselves in danger to keep up with online trends,” says Sgt. Raymond Tardif of the “K” Division Missing Persons Unit, in a release. “We remind parents to be aware of their children’s online activities and remind them that fake reports divert resources from legitimate emergencies and investigations.”