Snapchat? Kik? WhatsApp?

These are the modern instruments of mayhem for children. These are the reasons hair turns gray. These are also amazing tools to help teens connect.

Nowadays, driving around hitting mailboxes with baseball bats seems tepid compared to embarrassing children in front of every classmate (even those at other schools) instantly using just your thumbs.

Marietta police can help make sense of all this craziness.

Detective Gretchen Ingram is leading the department’s first “Internet Safety Seminar for Parents.”

Police spokesman Chuck McPhilamy said parents can expect to learn “the latest teen trends with regard to social media, texting/sexting, monitoring apps, secret apps as well as current laws relating to these issues.”

A representative from the district attorney’s office and a cyber analyst will also be there to help.

You’ll find out what apps average kids are using and what warning signs to look for.

And there will also be a question-and-answer session for the parents, so you can finally find out what in the heck these apps are all about.

The free seminar is on April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Marietta High School, 1171 Whitlock Ave.

Email detective Ingram at gingram@mariettaga.gov with any questions you may have. And you can register here.

Like Cobb County News Now on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

In other news:

Teen’s Hand Reattached In 15-Hour Surgery After Shop Class Accident

About the Author

Keep Reading

Gregory Edwards stands outside his home in Stone Mountain on Thursday. A fire on Monday killed Daniels’ grandson, Izaiah Taylor, a football player at Georgia Military College. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

Featured

Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC