Durango School District Hosts Internet Safety Event After Teacher’s Arrest

Durango School District Event on Internet Safety

The Durango School District 9-R hosted an event focused on internet safety. This was in response to the arrest of Benjamin Smith, a former teacher facing serious charges related to the exploitation of minors.

Smith, posing as a 16-year-old on Snapchat, used the name “MTNCHICK69” to target children. The event included a presentation by Detective Josh Newman from the Durango Police Department. He emphasized the dangers of online interactions and encouraged parents to monitor their children’s online activity.

Newman shared alarming data. Reports of child sexual abuse material have surged, with 36 million reports in 2023, a significant increase from 21.7 million in 2020. A Stanford Medicine study found that children receive their first cellphone at an average age of 11.

Many predators operate on popular platforms like Twitch, Discord, and WhatsApp. These apps can start with harmless messaging but may lead to dangerous situations when predators urge children to switch to platforms like Snapchat or Instagram.

Newman suggested that parents consider alternatives to smartphones, such as smartwatches, which provide limited communication options. He also advised parents to set up gaming consoles or computers in shared spaces to monitor their children’s gaming habits.

Location sharing on social media poses additional risks. For example, tagging locations like Durango High School can allow predators to find children’s profiles. Apps like Snapchat can reveal exact locations if children share their whereabouts.

Newman pointed out that many predators disguise themselves as teenagers to gain trust. Smith exemplified this tactic by pretending to be a different person online.

Parents are urged to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their children from online threats.

For questions, contact Tyler Brown at tbrown@durangoherald.com.