Predator
MMGuardian will alert parents of potentially harmful situations based on the content of their child’s monitored messages. This page provides recommended actions for the alert type indicated above.
Predators can take many forms – from the stereotypical older man, to a fellow student from school, and everywhere in between. It is important to fully educate your child about online predators to help protect them, but you should never underestimate how powerful predators are at manipulation. If you suspect your child is communicating with a predator, follow the steps below:
1. Document Everything
Take screenshots, record videos, and make sure no messages are deleted if possible. If the predator is on social media, get their username/id and any additional information that you can (phone number, location, etc.). All of this information will be necessary for law enforcement.
2. Report the Predator
If you received a predator alert in your MMGuardian Parent App, you should see an option to report it to us. After a trained team member checks and validates the report, we will forward it to our connections at CyberTipline.
You can also submit a report to CyberTipline yourself via this link:
https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline
It is strongly recommended to contact local law enforcement as well.
Be sure not to report the predator on social media until law enforcement says it’s okay as that could tip them off that they’re being investigated.
3. Seek Therapy for Your Child if Necessary
Dealing with a predator can be a very traumatic experience for a child, even if the predator didn’t get very far. It’s highly recommended to have your child talk to a professional therapist to ensure they are not emotionally scarred from the experience.
FURTHER READING
https://www.kidslivesafe.com/child-safety/communicating-with-sexual-predators-what-to-do
Also, specifically residents of the UK, but containing information that would be of interest for for all parents:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/online-grooming/
Childline UK also have a video about how to spot online grooming and what to do: