8 Internet Safety Tips to Protect Kids Against Online Human Traffickers
When many of us were children, we were warned against the bad guy driving a white van offering candy to unsuspecting kids. Or perhaps you have seen the social media hype about children being snatched in parking lots or stores.
But the truth is that those in-person scenarios very rarely play out because human traffickers have a much easier way to connect with children directly in the digital age . . . through a screen.
Human trafficking often happens in the shadows. So complete statistics are difficult to calculate. While we may know reported numbers, it’s impossible to know how many incidents are actually happening.
“In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 36 million CyberTipline® reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), a 360% increase over the number of reports received 10 years ago. “ source
Human trafficking and online safety for children are closely connected in today's digital age. Traffickers increasingly use the internet, particularly social media platforms and online games, to recruit and exploit vulnerable individuals, especially minors.
This connection highlights the importance of teaching children about online safety and implementing protective measures. Awareness is essential in the fight against human trafficking. So make sure the loved ones in your life are aware and educated. Below are a few tips to keep the kids in your life safe from these types of predators.
1. Teach kids about unsafe strangers, tricky people, and online grooming.
As adults, we know that not everyone can be trusted. But online predators disguise themselves as kids’ peers or friendly adults. It’s important for kids to see examples of how conversations could happen with tricky adults online. Discuss how people can try to deceive them online through social media, video games, and elsewhere. One great resource is this “Staying Safe Online Comic Book” from A21, a global anti-human trafficking organization. Learn about online grooming and teach kids to recognize red flags. Check out this excellent resource from Thorn, an organization committed to the prevention of the online exploitation of children.
2. Delay smartphone ownership and social media access.
As more and more data emerges about the harmful effects of social media on kids’ mental health, experts are urging parents to delay access to social media platforms until after puberty. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt recommends delaying smartphone ownership until age 14 and social media access for kids until age 16. (Personal tip, this is lots easier to do if you have other families in your social circle doing the same thing.) Learn more in Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. An added benefit to delaying social media access and smartphone ownership is that those become two fewer places online predators can interact with your children.
3. Turn off chat features for online gaming and enact parental controls on video games.
According to the FBI, “Child predators continue to take advantage of the rapid growth of online gaming.” Online gaming gives predators the chance to build a kind of shared online experience, in effect becoming the child's defender, teammate, and ally. “Online gaming also gives predators a logical topic to start a conversation with their intended victims: their common interest in the game. Predators may pose as friendly adults or age-appropriate peers to form relationships with potential victims. They often befriend children by giving them game tips or providing game currency.” Parents and guardians must do the hard work to learn how to use parental controls on gaming devices and gaming apps. Turn off chat features so that kids are unable to chat with those they don’t know. (Personal tip, kids can call their friends on the phone to talk while playing a video game together.) source
4. Both kids and adults should be careful not to share identifiable information online.
Parents and kids should avoid posting any identifiable information such as their address, age, phone number, email, the school they attend, places they frequent, etc. Remember that photos can sometimes reveal this private information. (For example, a picture of a student standing in front of their school, church, or sports field.) These things might sound harmless in a chat or on social media but could easily become dangerous. Also, choose usernames that don’t reveal any private information (age, birthday, last name, etc).
5. Install parental control software on devices in addition to utilizing built-in parental controls on the devices themselves.
Learn about the safety features of your child’s tablet, phone, or computer and implement them. Install monitoring apps on kids’ devices as well. One monitoring app to consider is Bark. Your child may not be comfortable with these apps and may feel like you don’t trust them. But it’s important to explain how these apps protect them and how much you care about their well-being. Find more resources here.
6. Set healthy rules and boundaries regarding online safety and involve your child in the process.
Giving kids some ownership over how they will stay safe online will help them want to abide by the rules. Consider having kids sign a technology contract regarding their use of the internet. Below are a few other boundaries that are wise to implement.
Charge your child’s electronics outside of the bedroom overnight.
Only allow electronic use in public areas of the home.
Know your kids’ passwords.
Social media profiles are always private.
Implement screen time limits.
Never chat with anyone online that you don’t know in person.
Never agree to meet someone you’ve met online in person.
Block creeps.
If something makes you feel uncomfortable online, talk to a trusted adult.
7. Educate yourself and your children about sextortion.
Sextortion is a word combined from the words sex and extortion. It happens when someone’s sexual imagery is used to extort them. Sextortion happens when someone threatens to expose nude or other compromising photos if a victim does not comply with their demands which include sending more compromising photos, maintaining contact, or sending money. Financial sextortion, in particular, is on the rise and particularly targets teen boys. According to Thorn, “Kids experiencing sextortion often do not see themselves as victims and instead believe it is their fault this is happening to them. Kids experiencing this type of online abuse can feel shame, fear, hopelessness, and isolation, which perpetrators rely on to carry out their threats.” And tragically, sometimes sextortion results in self-harm or even suicide due to shame. Parents should continually share that they love their kids unconditionally while also providing support so they know it’s never their fault if someone tricks them online. Thorn has provided an excellent educational series on sextortion to help you begin the conversation with your kids about this important topic.
8. Foster a healthy and safe relationship with your child so they will communicate and come to you about uncomfortable or unsafe situations.
Open communication between parents and kids is key when it comes to online safety. Kids should never feel like they have to keep secrets from their parents. Talking openly with your kids not only increases their awareness of a subject but also their willingness to tell you when issues arise. This website provides some great conversation starters and talking tips for parents.
