Angela McBride, a professor at Cleary University and co-owner of Mindful Motion, is the featured speaker in a talk entitled, “What Kids Won’t Tell You: The Truth about their Social Media Lives,” which will take place Thursday, Oct. 17 from 7 pm to 9 pm, at Cleary Commons, on the Cleary University campus in Howell.

McBride will conduct the free event in partnership with Shane Coyle of Child Safety Soldiers and Genesee Human Oppression Strike Teams (GHOST). The event is designed to provide parents, educators and community members with critical insights into the often-hidden realities of children’s social media use.

“Parents often are unaware of what their children are facing online,” reports McBride. “Through this event, we will help bridge that gap, providing vital information to help protect our kids.” McBride will dive into the growing concerns surrounding online threats and dangers, discussing the psychological impacts, emerging trends, and risks faced by younger users. Coyle, the founder of Child Safety Soldiers, will talk about his work in tracking online child predators across the country.

During the talk, parents will learn how predators use social media to target children, behavioral signs parents should watch for, how to approach children about their online activities, and emotional and practical tools to help protect children from online threats.

A Q & A session will follow the presentation. McBride, Coyle, Sergeant Victoria Dallas from GHOST, and Isaac Kwiatkowski, detective trooper specialist from the Cyber Section Intelligence Operations Division of the Michigan State Police, will answer questions and address concerns parents may have.