Know the Facts

Privacy settings are crucial; keep them on to protect yourself and your child. Don’t click on links you don’t recognize. Be careful of what you download. All the strategies for keeping your information and identity safe will also benefit your child’s safety. 

Have conversations with your kids about the dangers of talking to strangers online. Be frank; let them know that strangers will present themselves as kids and will do and say anything to get and keep their interest. 

Grooming

“Grooming” is a relationship that manifests over days or even years. It is an effort to deceive a young person and to coerce them into a sexual relationship, often for trafficking.

There are many myths among kids about online grooming:
– Only girls are victims.
– The victim is to blame.
– Only men are aggressors.
– Aggressors are easily recognizable.

None of these myths are true. “The rates of online sexual solicitation of adolescents by adults ranged from 13.9% to 17.8%, and the percentage of adolescents who sexually interacted with adults in response to these solicitations ranged from 5.4% to 7.6%.” NIH

Here are some warning signs regarding an online relationship for you and your children. 

  • It seems too good to be true. 

  • They send lots of messages. 

  • They send you sexual messages. 

  • They try to keep the conversation private. 

  • They try to blackmail you. 

  • They avoid video or phone calls. 

Great Internet grooming prevention resources: 

Adults are also subject to: 

  • Adults in abusive relationships may have access to their finances denied or accessed by an abuser. If it is safe to do so, make your bank aware of this intrusion. Change your passwords. Do not give anyone access to your individual information and accounts. 

  • Adults (and children) may be body-shamed and bullied. 

  • Doxxing (someone makes your personal information available online) 

  • Revenge Porn (sharing of intimate photos and videos) 

  • Sextortion

Cyber Safety

By dialing 211, you can report a cybercrime and receive resources. 

Cyberbullying and assault via the internet are on the rise; the rates significantly increase over the holidays. To ensure you and your family stay safe, we offer some information and resources below. 

Online Safety Tips for Children and Adults

According to the NSPCC, the most significant risks for our children online are :
– Cyberbullying
– Invasion of privacy
– Theft of identity
– Exposure to offensive images and text
– Grooming
– Gaming abuse

The best prevention methods we have are to teach children to keep their identities and personal information private—and to make sure, as best you can, that your child has a relationship with a safe adult with whom they can share their internet concerns—yourself, a trusted teacher, an aunt or uncle, etc. 

Resources

STOP BULLYING NOW HOTLINE (USA) 1-800-273-8255 

  • Helpline set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

  • Available 24/7 

CYBERSMILE is a non-profit agency in the U.S. and U.K. dedicated to a safe and healthy internet environment.

The Trevor Project is a terrific general resource for LGBTQIA+ youth.