Imagine seeing  one of these on your child’s phone: 

“Ur so pretty. Wanna be friends?” 

“IDK if I should tell u…Adrian showed some of us the pic u sent him.”

Cruel comments or messages from their classmates.

“I love playing this game with you. I feel like I’ve known you forever. What do you look like?”

“We should meet IRL! Where do u live?”

What do you do? How do you start the conversation with your child? How do you create an environment at home where your kids know they can come to you for help and support when they’re in a difficult situation? 

We get it- these conversations can be tough! The dangers that children may be exposed to online can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, embarrassed, disappointed, or angry. Despite possible discomfort, our children’s safety must always come first, and that means we need to educate ourselves and our families on safe internet practices. The Child Protection Center is here to help you do just that. 

“The internet has opened up a whole new arena for unsafe people to have access to children.” says Michelle McSwain, Program Director of the Personal Safety and Community Awareness team at the Child Protection Center. “We have made it our mission to arm children with the safety skills and knowledge to identify a red flag. We want them to know what to do if they come across something or someone unsafe online. Parental settings are a great starting point in the home, but a child’s personal and online safety skills travel with them- as does their access to the internet- as they grow and navigate the world.”

THE FACTS:

• 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited online. (Lauren’s Kids)
• 45% of teens report being online “almost constantly,” spending an average of 9 hours per day online. (Internet Crimes Against Children)
• 1 in 3 boys aged 9-to-12 reported having an online sexual interaction. This is the highest rate in five years of data collection. (Thorn)
• Between 2021 and 2023, the number of online enticement reports increased by more than 300%. (NetSmartz)

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Visit the Child Protection Center’s new resource page all about Internet Safety. It is filled with practical tips, information, and guidance for parents and families- you and your child can even practice your online safety skills through taking the included quiz!
• The Child Protection Center’s Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA) provides FREE prevention education via workshops both online and in person across Sarasota County, including lessons on Internet Safety for children, caregivers, and professionals who work with youth. Additional workshops are also available, such as Sexual Abuse Prevention, Anti-Bullying, How to Identify & Report Abuse, and custom workshops to best fit the needs of your group. All workshops are free of charge.
• Make Internet Safety and Personal Safety regular conversations in your family. Repetition is key in teaching any skill- think of how often we all heard, “Stop, drop, and roll!” growing up.
• Be approachable- kids are often hesitant to share because they’re afraid of harsh consequences. Be a safe place for your child to turn to when they’ve seen or done something uncomfortable or frightening.