AG Alan Wilson issues urgent back-to-school plea to parents: Talk to your kids about dangers of the internet, fentanyl

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - As students return to classrooms across South Carolina, Attorney General Alan Wilson is making a direct and emotional plea to parents: Sit your children down and have the hard conversations. Right now, your child’s greatest threat may not be at school or on the streets; it may be online, right under your roof. 

“This is not just a back-to-school message. This is a wake-up call,” said Attorney General Wilson. “You are your child’s first and strongest line of defense. The threats kids face today -- online predators, violent content, deadly drugs -- are silent, invisible, and often go unnoticed until it’s too late.” 

TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET 

Predators are not lurking in dark alleys; they are sitting behind screens, targeting children through gaming chats, social media apps, and direct messages. Children are being groomed, manipulated, and coerced right from their bedrooms. 

“My warning to parents is this: this can happen even while your child is upstairs in your home. You could be sitting on the couch, and your child is being targeted by someone pretending to be a friend, a peer, or someone they trust,” Wilson warned. 

South Carolina recently passed landmark laws to fight back against emerging online threats, including the use of artificial intelligence to create and distribute exploitative child sexual abuse content. But legislation alone can’t protect your child from what they’re seeing and who they’re talking to online. 

“Know who your child is talking to. Monitor what they’re looking at. Ask them what they’re doing online. If your child starts to become isolated, withdrawn, or 'not themselves,' don’t ignore it. These could be signs they’re being groomed or targeted.” 

You can learn more from our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force here. 

FENTANYL: ‘ONE PILL CAN KILL’ 

In addition to online dangers, Wilson stressed the ongoing risk of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid being disguised in counterfeit pills and street drugs. These pills are killing young people across South Carolina and the nation. 

“If your child takes a pill they didn’t get from a doctor or a trusted adult, they could die. It’s that serious,” Wilson said. “Fentanyl is in everything now—brightly colored pills, fake prescriptions, and it only takes one. One pill can kill.” 

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO RIGHT NOW:

• Have open, ongoing conversations with your children about online safety, predators, and peer pressure. 
• Know who they are talking to and what platforms they are on. Don’t assume you know; ask the questions. 
• Check their devices regularly and set boundaries for when and how they use technology. 
• Be alert for emotional or behavioral changes like isolation, secrecy, or changes in attitude or routine. 
• Talk to them about fentanyl and make sure they know the deadly risks of taking anything not prescribed. 
• Lead by example when it comes to digital habits and mental health.