The Internet can be a wonderful place where kids can learn, communicate, and develop their talents. However, we need to remember that online predators take advantage of youth online like never before. The following facts are hard to read, but too many people ignore them.
There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active on any given day whose preferred victims are girls aged between 12 and 15, mainly found on social media (source: FBI, Children and Grooming / Online predators). An estimated 252,000 websites contain images or videos of children being sexually abused, with a 15-fold increase compared to a decade ago. In 2023, 74% of online child predators communicate with each other to offer or solicit specific children, while 13% post content to provide a child or solicit those with access to a child. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in six people surveyed were victims of online child abuse before the age of 18. Girls make up 78% of child victims of online enticement, while 82% of online predators are male. 98% of them have never met their child targets in real life.
The importance of education on online predators
Teaching children and teenagers to recognize online predators and how to respond is crucial for their safety. Education is essential for them to recognize and respond to online risks and threats. It can help children develop coping mechanisms, build resilience, and understand online safety and consent. Also, targeted education programs can help steer teens away from harmful online activities and towards positive online behaviours. In this article, we want to offer a structured approach that parents, educators, or guardians can use.
The first step in educating kids on online risks is to explain what an online predator is. Teach children and teens that an online predator is someone who uses the internet to exploit or harm others, often by pretending to be friendly or trustworthy. These people use common tactics that are easy to identify:
- Grooming: Predators often try to gain trust by being overly friendly, complimenting, or showing fake concern.
- Manipulation: They might ask for personal information, photos, or try to turn the conversation toward inappropriate topics.
- Secretive relationships: Teach them that a predator might ask them to keep the interaction a secret from family or friends.
The warning signs
The next step is to teach children to recognize the warning signs of an online predator:
- Excessive flattery: If someone gives them too many compliments, especially about appearance, this could be a red flag.
- Inappropriate questions or conversations: If a person starts asking personal, sexual, or uncomfortable questions.
- Pressure to meet in person: Predators often try to escalate the relationship to a real-life meeting.
- Requesting photos or videos: If they ask for private, inappropriate, or sexual content.
How to react
Once the online predatorial behaviour is recognized, it’s critical to teach kids how to react:
- No engagement: Encourage them not to reply or argue if they suspect someone is a predator.
- Block and report: Teach them how to block and report suspicious users on the platform they’re using.
- Tell a trusted adult: Ensure they know to come to a trusted adult (parent, teacher, or guardian) immediately if something feels wrong.
- Save evidence: While not engaging, they should save any messages, screenshots, or conversations to show a trusted adult.
Cybersecurity and privacy awareness
Only a few decades ago, children were taught about “stranger danger.” Today, we need to do the same online, where predators can disguise themselves behind a harmless persona and anonymity.
- Teach kids not to share personal information: Teach them never to share their full name, address, school name, or phone number with anyone they don’t know in person.
- Teach them how to set up strong privacy settings: Help them set up strong privacy settings on social media and online platforms so only friends and trusted individuals can contact them.
- Teach them to use anonymous usernames: Encourage using non-identifiable usernames that don’t give away personal details.
Teach critical thinking skills
Kids must be equipped with critical thinking skills to navigate online safely. In particular:
- Question people’s motives: Teach them to question why someone online needs personal information or wants to meet.
- Recognize fake profiles: Encourage them to be cautious of profiles that seem too good to be true, such as someone claiming to be the same age but displaying adult-like behaviours.
- Trust their gut instincts: If something feels off or uncomfortable, they must trust their intuition.
Role-Playing scenarios
Role-playing scenarios where someone might try to groom or manipulate kids can be a valuable practice in how they can respond (e.g., not engaging, blocking, and reporting). This can teach them how to recognize an online predator and be ready to respond appropriately when it happens in real life. Additionally, it’s always a good practice to encourage open and judgement-free conversations so they feel safe sharing anything that concerns them.
Programs and resources
Luckily, the Internet also offers valuable resources to educate children and teens. We strongly encourage enrolling them in age-appropriate digital safety programs that teach kids to interact safely online. Many organizations, including schools, offer cybersecurity education tailored for young audiences. You can also use resources like NetSmartz by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or platforms like Common Sense Media to further guide them.
Parents and guardians' involvement
Protecting children and teenagers from online predators is a delicate task. While respecting their privacy, you’ll need to maintain an open channel, where it’s crucial that you can still check their online activities and monitor them. You can use parental control software to set boundaries on apps, websites and messaging platforms without being too invasive.
Empowering kids with knowledge and tools can go a long way in protecting them against the risks of the online world and helping them stay safe while enjoying the capabilities of technology.
