The digital landscape has transformed how we interact, learn, and connect. Unfortunately, it has also created fertile ground for a dark reality: online predators and the insidious practice of grooming. These individuals exploit the anonymity and accessibility of the internet to target vulnerable individuals, primarily children and adolescents, with devastating consequences. Digital safety for kids online is being threatened, and we are actively advocating for protecting children from online predators.
In this guide for parents, we will teach you to understand the warning signs of online grooming and how to spot sextortion online. We will also provide you with online safety tools for parents that protect and promote digital safety for families of teens and tweens. Consider this the only child internet safety guide you need.
Online Predators and Grooming:
Grooming is a systematic process used by predators to establish trust, control, and ultimately manipulate their victims. It involves a series of calculated steps designed to break down the victim’s defenses and make them susceptible to abuse.
Predators often create fake online personas, posing as peers or individuals with shared interests to gain the victim’s confidence. They may shower their targets with compliments, flattery, and attention, mirroring their desires and aspirations. As the relationship evolves, the predator gradually isolates the victim from friends and family, fostering a sense of dependence and exclusivity. Simultaneously, they may engage in sexually suggestive conversations or request explicit images and videos, exploiting the victim’s emotional vulnerability and curiosity.
The impact of online grooming and predation is profound and far-reaching. Protecting children from online predators is essential. Victims often experience severe emotional trauma, including feelings of betrayal, shame, guilt, and fear. The experience can lead to lasting psychological damage, affecting their self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being. Additionally, victims may face threats of blackmail or the distribution of private images, further compounding their distress.
In some cases, the grooming process culminates in physical abuse or even human trafficking. Predators may lure victims into face-to-face meetings under false pretenses, exploiting their trust to exploit them sexually or otherwise. The consequences for victims can be catastrophic, leaving them trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation.
We must be vigilant and educate ourselves about protecting children from online predators. Parents and guardians should monitor their children’s online activity closely, have open conversations about internet safety, and establish clear boundaries for online interactions. Schools and community organizations should also help educate young people about the dangers of online predation and provide resources for support and reporting.
If you suspect that an online predator is grooming or victimizing someone, it is essential to take immediate action. Report the incident to law enforcement authorities and seek help from trusted adults or professionals. Remember, you are not alone, and resources are available to support you and protect others from harm.
The threat posed by online predators is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While technology offers incredible opportunities for connection and learning, it is essential to be aware of the risks and take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our children. By understanding grooming tactics, fostering open communication, and utilizing available resources, we can create a safer online environment for everyone.
Sextortion Awareness for Parents:
There is an alarming trend in online scams that parents must be prepared for. The scam is done by coercing unsuspecting victims into sending illicit pictures and videos and then extorting money from them with the threat of exposure. It’s called Sextortion, and your children could be at risk.
It starts with a simple conversation in an online chat. Online predators could initiate contact in a game like Roblox, Fortnite, or a chatroom like Discord. The user may contact your child through direct messages on social media, such as TikTok or Instagram, or even get their Snapchat name and message them.
The scammer will sound just like a child, using the same slang as kids or teens and discussing similar interests. They are priming and grooming your child through this conversation and building trust. They can even send pics of themselves, likely just pictures they found on the internet of real kids. From behind a computer or phone, it is nearly impossible for your child to know this is an adult and an untrustworthy person.
Once the scammer has received illicit content from your child, they will threaten to publish or share it unless given a sum of money.
What to do if you or your child is facing sextortion:
First, cut off all contact with the extortioner. Illicit pictures are rarely posted on social media because companies do not allow that type of content on their sites. The predators care only about the money, so do not give it to them. Report and block them and any account they have used to contact you. If any content is released, posted, sent, or exchanged, file a police report for harassment.
Parenting in this digital age means learning the technological skills and tools you can use to keep your children safe. Our parents taught us not to speak to strangers and to check our Halloween candy before we ate it. Today, we have to use the same principles in a digital world.
Here are the most essential and basic rules to use with your kids in any online format:
- Never chat, text, or engage in any way with someone you have not met in real life.
- Never send inappropriate pictures, videos, or messages of yourself (or anyone else) through an app, text, or chat.
- Always tell a parent or guardian if someone makes you feel uncomfortable online.
Explore more tech rules that promote digital safety for kids online with our list of 10 Simple Rules for Teens & Technology.
Teens don’t often tell their parents about suspicious or uncomfortable behavior they experience online. You need to initiate a conversation with your child and teen. Teach them that people will try to convince them to send inappropriate pictures (whether that is a stranger or even a boy or girl at school). Your child must know they can come to you because you have already had this conversation before they even encountered this problem. Keep the communication open with your child so they know they can come to you without fear of punishment or judgment.
The best part about parenting in the digital age (besides saving thousands of videos and pictures of your kids on your phone) is the tools available to help parents safeguard their children. MMGuardian has created an app and phone dedicated to monitoring your child’s online life.
A Parental Control phone from MMGuardian has protective software built in. The phone will block inappropriate content and alert you of any suspicious behavior. You set the controls and can customize them to protect your child while giving certain freedoms you deem appropriate. The MMGuardian phone helps your child to stay in touch with their friends while giving parents the peace of mind that they are safeguarding their child’s innocence and identity.
Learn more about the MMGuardian Phone here or click the button below to try out the app!
General Digital Safety Tips for Families:
When parenting teenagers, discussions about rules can be a daily, and sometimes heated, conversation. One area that is more impactful than anything is technology. Your teen’s relationship with tech should be carefully curated and maintained. Your teenager has grown up right alongside the internet. For as long as they have known, information is quickly and easily accessible.
Recognizing that you and your teen have a different relationship with tech is a good place to start. While I advocate respecting your teens’ online lives, a parent’s decision is final. I will always prioritize my children’s safety over their satisfaction.
MMGuardian provides a Safety Contract in our Parent Resource Center. This contract is just one of the online safety tools for parents that MMGuardian provides. Download this Family Online Tech Agreement to discuss digital safety for kids online with your teens and tweens.
From sextortion, grooming, cyberbullying, sexual predators, and identity theft, there are real threats to our children in the digital world. As parents, we must educate ourselves, inform and protect our children, and use whatever resources are available to combat these threats. Talk to your children about the appropriate use of technology. Use the power of technology to protect them with Parental Control apps like MMGuardian. Lastly, encourage your child to come to you with uncomfortable or inappropriate content. With well-informed, supportive parents, teens and children can enjoy the benefits of the online universe by connecting with friends and playing games online.
