Dear Parent/Guardian:

I want to make you aware of a situation that is unfolding today involving alleged inappropriate communications between an adult (outside of Fallsburg) and an elementary-aged student on an online gaming platform.  A police investigation is underway.

Yesterday afternoon, an elementary student informed a trusted adult that a classmate of theirs was planning to meet an adult that she met through the online game Roblox. This was immediately reported to the Fallsburg Police Department who began an investigation last night.

This is very concerning and it seems to be a widespread issue in the online world. We are thankful for the work of the Fallsburg Police Department as they have made this a high priority investigation. We are also very thankful for our student who became aware of something and said something.  That report may have made a huge difference in the life of another student.

While online gaming can be fun, the anonymity it provides can unfortunately act as a smokescreen for predatory behavior. Parents need to stay vigilant about grooming, a manipulative process where adults build rapport with minors.  Sometimes the adults pose as children to gain confidence. These predators often aim to transition the relationship from the public game platform to encrypted private messaging apps, where they can more easily isolate the child. The ultimate goal of this grooming process is frequently to arrange physical meetings, leveraging the trust built during hours of gameplay to bypass a child's natural instincts for safety.

To shield children from these risks, the most effective defense is consistent, judgment-free communication. Recommendations for parents include:

1. Sitting in on or participating in gaming sessions and discussing boundaries.
2. Use parent control settings to limit direct contact. 
3. Disabling voice chat. 
4. Keeping personal details private—this is non-negotiable. 
5. Never allow children to share addresses, school names or any other information that could identify them in any way.
6. Tell children to tell you immediately if they are asked for any personal information or photos.
7. Tell children to tell you immediately if photos are shared with them by strangers.
8. Tell children to tell you immediately if they are asked to keep their chats secret.
9. Tell children to tell you immediately if someone asks to meet up with them.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school or to the Fallsburg Police Department if you suspect inappropriate contact between an adult and your child in the online world.

Dr. Katz

Resources for Parents

• This link is a resource on apps parents should be aware of: 2026 Apps To Be Aware Of

Here are three websites that offer guidance on setting up technical boundaries and understanding the specific games your child plays:

• ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board): Beyond just age ratings, the ESRB provides detailed, step-by-step guides for setting parental controls on every major console (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch) and PC. Their "Family Gaming Guide" is a great starting point for establishing household rules.
• ConnectSafely: This site offers platform-specific "Parent's Guides" for popular gaming-related apps like Discord, Roblox, and Twitch. They focus on the social aspects of gaming and how to manage "friends" and chat settings effectively.
• Common Sense Media: A gold standard for reviews. They break down the "social" risks of individual games, letting you know if a game has open voice chat or if it’s known for a toxic or predatory community.