3 reasons online exploitation is skyrocketing (and how you can protect your kids)
Ever imagine you’d be caring for your kids 24/7 while supervising virtual learning, working your own job and dealing with a worldwide pandemic? The past year has been full of firsts. And between disrupted schedules and breaking news, some things may have slipped through the cracks. Things like the rising dangers online.
“School closures and strict containment measures mean more and more families are relying on technology and digital solutions to keep children learning, entertained and connected to the outside world,” said Global Partnership to End Violence Executive Director Dr. Howard Taylor in a press release. “But not all children have the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to keep themselves safe online.”
More than 1.5 billion kids have been affected by school closures all over the world. And that’s not the only reason the shift to virtual learning has been making headlines. In fact, in March 2020 the FBI issued a warning that school closings could lead to a hike in the risk for child exploitation.
Experts agree that one thing has held true in these changing times: Child predators go where the kids go. A report from Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, warned there may be an increase in online activity of people seeking to sexually exploit children. Offenders are flocking to internet because they expect kids to be more vulnerable. Why is that? There are a number of reasons. Here are the big three and what you can do to keep your child safe.
Problem 1: Social isolation
Just like many adults during the pandemic, kids may be feeling lonely, anxious, and overwhelmed. Losing face-to-face contact with friends takes away a key support system and may lead to more risk-taking, say experts. That includes sending sexualized images.
Online predators know this, too. And they’re taking advantage of young people’s desires to be appreciated, feel understood and take risks. They provide a listening ear and a pretense of support, then try to use the trust they’ve built to manipulate children into participating in sexual interactions.
Shame plays a huge role in these dangerous relationships. Shame makes kids hide risky communications while the situation escalates. And shame grows the longer they stay silent and separated. To keep children and young people safe online, it’s important to take on shame head-on. Use these pointers to start a conversation with your child and prepare their minds for internet use.
Tips for combating risk-taking behaviors online:
Encourage your child to communicate openly with you, and model that behavior by having sincere, candid conversations with them.
Let them know they won’t be judged on anything they have to say, and remind them that you’ll always love them.
Emphasize that they can talk to you about sex and that you will not be upset with them. Be clear that they are not to blame if anyone is ever sexual toward them.
Make sure children know they should tell a parent, guardian or other safe adult right away if someone asks them to engage in sexually explicit activity online.
Talk to your kids about setting boundaries, both physical and emotional.
Problem 2: More time online
“The coronavirus pandemic has led to an unprecedented rise in screen time,” said Dr. Taylor. No surprise — students are moving online to take classes, socialize and more. There’s no question, the internet has its benefits. But keep in mind how more time online raises safety risks for millions of young people.
For one, experts warn that all that extra unstructured time online may expose kids to harmful and violent content. Even if your kids are just using educational tools, the virtual learning experience is only as safe as the devices they’re on. Take this advice to prepare them for more time online.
Tips for making devices ready for all the extra screen time:
Double-check that your kid’s devices have the latest software and security updates as well as antivirus programs.
Ensure privacy settings are set to the strictest level possible on their devices, including phones, tablets, computers and online gaming systems. iPhones allow you to set a passcode and turn off access to any app you choose.
Review and approve games and apps before your kids download them. Don’t assume educational apps and programs are safe.
Monitor how your child uses the internet. It is helpful to keep electronic devices in a common room within your home.
Make sure you have access to your children’s accounts. Check their profiles and private messages to keep track of what they post online and who they are communicating with.
Consider signing up for a monitoring tool. We highly recommend Bark, a subscription-based app that monitors 30+ of the most popular apps and social media platforms, including text messaging and email, for signs of digital dangers. It also provides screen time management and web filtering tools that help you set healthy limits around how and when your kids use their devices.
Problem 3: Less supervision
We get it. You’re busy. You have a million and one things to do. And between taking care of your own mental health and supporting your children, you don’t have time to peer over their shoulder and keep tabs on their every move online.
And you shouldn’t have to hover. Talk to them about internet safety to give them the tools they need to navigate the internet on their own. Use these hints to get started.
Tips on preparing kids to navigate the internet responsibly:
No matter how old your child is, they need to know about internet safety before they engage in any online activity. Talk to them early on.
Set clear rules for how, when and where your kids can use the internet.
Discuss how they are communicating online and who they are speaking with.
Make sure your kids understand that images they post online could be on there forever for anyone to see.
Teach them to look for red flag behaviors. Strangers shouldn’t tell them to keep their relationship a secret, give gifts such as in-game credits, request personal information or ask that they hop over to less monitored apps like Snapchat.
Look for signs of distress or secretive behaviors that may be connected to their online activity.
If you’re like us, you’re tired of hearing that you’re living in “unprecedented times.” Ignore those cliches all you want, so long as you don’t turn a blind eye to how the transforming world impacts your kids.
“Under the shadow of COVID-19, the lives of millions of children have temporarily shrunk to just their homes and their screens,” said Henrietta Fore, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in a press release. “We must help them navigate this new reality.”
Luckily, preparing kids to maneuver the modern technology landscape is kind of our thing. Our goal is to empower them to reach their full potential. And the biggest tool in our arsenal to stop abuse before it starts is prevention education. Check out our educational resources page for videos, articles and tools to help you protect your kids. Or go a step further and schedule a presentation. Our talks are designed to help equip the young folks in your life so they know how to guard against the dangers of sex trafficking and exploitation.