As parents, you've probably used the phrase "Stranger Danger” to describe to your kids those people to avoid. However, there are some shortcomings to focusing solely on the potential threat posed by people your child doesn't know.

First of all, some kids will heed this warning from their parents, but others could still be convinced to go with a stranger if they were offered candy or asked to assist in looking for a lost dog. In today’s world, strangers can even attempt to contact your child in real life and or through online channels.

Second, there's always a possibility your child may become separated from you and have no choice but to interact with a "stranger" in order to find help in getting back to safety.

So what's concerned parent to do?

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Raising Awareness

Although this a sensitive topic, the best defense against child sexual predators is starting conversations early so that your children have the knowledge they need to identify what is or is not appropriate. Not only will they be more likely to recognize or even avoid a bad situation, but you'll have the reassurance of knowing that they're getting the correct information from you rather than from someone else who may or may not be reliable.

Depending on your child’s age, the conversation may not be as in depth as it might be with a teenager, but here are some examples of what to say in different scenarios. If a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood:

1. Tell your child that someone who has done something harmful to kids has moved into your area.
2. Because of this, your child can only venture out into their neighborhood either with a group of friends or under adult supervision –– never alone.
3. If they ask about details of what the offender did, simply say they did something inappropriate to hurt a child.
4. Remember to remind your child that most people in this world do care about kids, but there are also those that do have harmful intentions towards kids.
5. Make sure your child is aware of the address of the house to avoid. If there is a photo of the individual available, share that with your child as well so they can recognize the offender.
6. Be open to any questions they have and let them know they can come to you to talk about this matter at any time.
7. Some young children may not comprehend the subject matter or understand its importance. Tell them to take the situation seriously, and reassure them that you are trying to protect them, not just scare them

Understanding "Bad Strangers"

Should your child ever become separated from you away from home and have no other option than to ask an adult for help, make sure they can identify someone who is less likely to present a danger to them, even if they don't know the individual personally.

1. While there are some strangers who hurt kids, explain to your child that these strangers will usually try to get kids far away from any other people before they do anything harmful.
2. If your children are ever in a situation where they need to ask for help from people they don't know, there are ways that they can recognize who is less likely to be a "bad stranger".
3. Teach them to look for moms with kids, uninformed police officers, security guards, or other low-risk adults who they can ask for emergency assistance.
4. Help them memorize important information like your full name, home address, and telephone number so that they or a trustworthy adult can get contact you quickly.

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"Stranger Danger" Online

Many kids, even very young ones, already own a cell phone. This makes them easily accessible to strangers anywhere. Whether your child plays online games, talks to other players in chat rooms, engages on social media, or sends texts to “friends”, they could be chatting with or being contacted by a child predator.

1. The first thing you need to remind your kid is that everything posted on the internet (and even messages sent through their phone) could fall into the wrong hands and be used against them.
2. Teach them to respect their bodies, and not to share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids. Remind them to not share any personal information online with those they do not know in real life.
3. If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should immediately come to you so that you can take action.
4. Conduct some “what-if” scenarios to help your child identify warning signs so that you can work together to prevent them from being lured into a bad situation.

Having these conversations does not make you overprotective or a “helicopter parent”. It doesn’t even mean you don’t trust your kid. Having these conversations could prevent the unthinkable by giving your children the tools they need to protect themselves.

For an added layer of security, download the OffenderWatch Family Safety App for iPhone or Android. The app allows you to track your kids in real time, locate registered sex offenders near your family, and receive alerts if your child is contacted by a registered sex offender through call, text, or email.

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In today’s technology driven world, kids use social media sites, chat rooms, and texting as their primary communication tools. Online predators know this and are constantly roaming these online spaces for their next victims. 

There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day. Children between 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to being groomed by online predators. In cases where children have been physically harmed by predators they met online, 100% of them reported that they went to meet the offender voluntarily. Additionally, recent studies reveal that 15-20% of teens surveyed say they have considered arranging an in-person meeting with someone they have only talked to online. 

According to the FBI, an estimated 89% of sexual advances directed at kids occur in Internet chat rooms or through instant messaging. While the end goal for some of these online predators may be an in-person meeting, others may aim to engage in sextortion schemes that target kids by instructing them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves and using those photos as blackmail. 

While some predators use fake profile pictures and fake ages to pose as peers, many never attempt to hide the fact that they are adults because teens often feel validated by the idea of having an older “friend” who appears attentive and supportive. Online predators may use shared hobbies or interests (real or fake) to establish an online relationship with the victim. Interaction then progresses to gaining the child’s trust by complimenting them, listening sympathetically, and engaging in increasingly personal conversation. Over time, these exchanges evolve into sexual conversations, and can eventually result in kids sending inappropriate photos or agreeing to meet in person..

This process is one that occurs more often than most parents want to believe. Here are five warning signs that may indicate that your child is being groomed by an online predator: 

1. Your child begins to spend an increased (even excessive) amount of time online. 
2. Your child becomes very secretive about online activities and won’t allow you to see their screen or view their social media accounts. They may become possessive of phones or personal devices, or quickly switch tabs or screens whenever they realize you are close by..
3. Your child begins using mature or sexually explicit language that you would not otherwise expect them to know. 
4. Your child becomes unusually withdrawn or emotionally volatile.
5. You find sexually explicit photos or pornography on devices or computers that your child uses. 

The first and most important step in addressing any of these red flags is to talk to your child about the changes in their behavior and your concerns about the stress they appear to be experiencing. If you determine that your child may be the victim of a sextortion scheme, there are a number of resources that can help you respond and report the issue.

Whether your child has already encountered an online predator or not, there are also steps you can take to mitigate the risk. Install parental controls on all devices that your child can access,  and have a candid and serious conversation with your child about your rules and expectations for their online behavior.

The free OffenderWatch Family Safety App is another valuable tool in the fight to prevent the unthinkable. With the Family Safety App, parents can track their kids in real time, locate registered sex offenders nearby, and receive alerts when a new offender moves into their area. Other premium notification and blocking features are available with a monthly Family Watch subscription.

As we observe National Children’s Mental Health Week, it's crucial to address a topic that often remains shrouded in silence and discomfort: child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse encompasses a range of behaviors, from inappropriate touching to more severe forms of assault. This form of abuse can have devastating and long-lasting effects on a child's mental health and overall well-being. Perpetrators can be acquaintances, family members, or even strangers, making it challenging to identify and prevent. By raising awareness and understanding the warning signs, we can take steps to protect our children and ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Some common warning signs that parents and caregivers can watch for:

• ‍Behavioral Changes: Keep an eye out for sudden changes in behavior, such as withdrawal, aggression, or fearfulness. Younger children may also exhibit regressive behaviors like bed-wetting or thumb-sucking.
• ‍Physical Signs: While not always present, physical signs such as unexplained bruises, injuries to genital areas, or difficulty walking or sitting can indicate possible abuse.
• ‍Emotional Distress: Children who have been sexually abused may experience a range of emotional reactions, including depression, anxiety, nightmares, or sudden mood swings.
• ‍Sexual Knowledge or Behavior Beyond Their Age: If a child demonstrates knowledge of sexual acts or engages in sexual behaviors that are developmentally inappropriate, it could be a red flag.
• ‍Avoidance of Certain People or Places: Pay attention if a child consistently avoids being alone with a particular person or refuses to go to certain places without providing a clear reason.

If you suspect that a child close to you may be experiencing sexual abuse, it's essential to take action promptly and appropriately.

• ‍Stay Calm and Reassuring: Approach the child with empathy and reassurance. Let them know they are safe and that you believe them.
• ‍Listen and Validate: Allow the child to share their feelings and experiences at their own pace. Listen without judgment and validate their emotions.
• ‍Report Suspicions: If you have reasonable suspicion or evidence of abuse, report it immediately to the appropriate authorities, such as Child Protective Services or law enforcement.
• ‍Provide Support: Offer ongoing support to the child by connecting them with a trusted therapist, counselor, or support group specializing in child sexual abuse.
• ‍Educate Yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about child sexual abuse, its impact, and how to prevent it. Knowledge is power in safeguarding our children.

Above all, remember that addressing child sexual abuse requires sensitivity, compassion, and a commitment to protecting the well-being of our most vulnerable members of society. By breaking the silence and raising awareness, we can create a safer environment where children can thrive free from the shadow of abuse.

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Transitioning to a new calendar year spurs many of us to be more mindful of positive change and focus on developing new, healthier habits or life skills. For parents, this annual phenomenon represents a perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for an open and ongoing conversation with our kids about the potential dangers of online sexual predators.  

Talk to Your Kids About Using Tech Safely

Parents naturally wish that there was no need to address this topic, but unfortunately, ignoring the problem will never make it go away––it will only leave your child vulnerable. Sexual predators are relentless and will use any means at their disposal to find their next victim, including online grooming, sextortion, and luring kids to real-life meetings. A typical online predator is in the process of grooming 10 or more victims at a time.

Considering the fact that in 2024 even very young children spend increasing amounts of time online or on connected devices, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure children aren’t at undue risk of being exploited by these dangerous individuals. 

Here are some important points to cover with your children when you talk to them about how online predators operate:

• Remind your children that everything posted on the Internet or sent through their phone could end up in the wrong hands and may be used against them. 
• Teach them to respect their bodies and stress that they should never share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids.  
• Remind them not to share any personal information with people they do not know well in real life. 
• If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should let you know immediately so that you can take action. 

What Is Sextortion?

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), law enforcement received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors in 2022, resulting in at least 3,000 victims (primarily boys) and more than a dozen deaths by suicide.  Keep in mind that these numbers only represent the individuals who came forward to report incidents of sextortion. A significant number of victims are too scared or embarrassed to tell anyone what happened to them. 

How Does Sextortion Happen?

Predators create fake accounts on social media platforms, chat rooms, and online games to begin a conversation with children and identify which of them are particularly lonely, hungry for attention, or otherwise susceptible to manipulation. Once a child engages, the predator will seek to gain their trust and eventually persuade them to send inappropriate photos or videos. The predator will threaten to share these images with a child’s friends and family if they don’t take further action, such as sending money or additional, more inappropriate materials. This is sextortion.

What Can I Do to Stop Sextortion?

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined several important action items for young people who have been victimized by sextortion.

• Remember, you are not to blame––the predator is.
• Before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator, ask for help. This can be a very complex problem that requires guidance from trusted adults or law enforcement agents.  
• Be aware that cooperating with or paying these predators rarely stops the blackmail and harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the associated platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages. These pieces of evidence can provide critical assistance to law enforcement in identifying the responsible parties and preventing them from causing further harm.
• If you feel like you don’t have an adult in your corner, reach out to NCMEC for support by calling 1-800-THE-LOST, or email gethelp@ncmec.org. 

Parents or children can also take the following steps to address this issue:   

• Contact NCMEC to help remove any explicit images a predator has acquired from the Internet. 
• Visit cybertipline.org to report the incident to the FBI and request their help with that process.
• If children don’t feel they have adults in their corner, they can reach out to NCMEC for support at  gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. 

The bottom line is this: If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and it must be reported. 

How Do I Report Sextortion?

• Call or email your local FBI field office. You can view this list of all FBI field offices and the areas they cover to find the contact information you need.
• If you’re not sure which field office to contact, call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
• Visit tips.fbi.gov to submit an online report.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent Sextortion?

In order to prevent kids from being exploited by predators, parents need to know who their children are talking to. One important tool that enables parents to block predators’ access is the OffenderWatch Family Safety App. For just $4.99 a month, parents can upgrade to a Family Watch subscription that enables them to track their child’s phone, get notified if their child lingers near a registered sex offender’s residence for a prolonged period of time, or receive alerts if a registered sex offender or any individual on a customized “Do Not Contact” attempts to communicate with their child phone via text, call, or email.

To learn more about the OffenderWatch Family Safety App and Family Watch subscription features, visit offenderwatch.com/family-safety-app.

Making the decision to buy your child a cell phone is not an easy one. As the holidays approach, there's a good chance that kids who don't already have their own phones will put one on their wish list.

But just because kids can ask for a phone, does that mean they're ready for one? To answer that question, parents should consider the following issues and make sure they're prepared for their child to have that level of responsibility.

1. Is a cell phone a want or a need? Most kids want a cell phone because they think it's a status symbol, or because their friends have one. However, neither of those points address the question of whether having their own phone is a necessity. Do they need to be able to contact you in case of emergencies? Do they need to be able to search the internet for information? Do they need to be able to communicate with friends or use certain apps? Do they spend most of their time with you or in the care of another adult you know and trust? If your kids aren't frequently in situations where they have to function independently or without reliable supervision, you may decide that a cell phone is more of a luxury than a day-to-day need.

‍Are they mature enough to handle the responsibility? Cell phones are expensive, powerful devices that must be protected and treated with respect at all times. Do your kids demonstrate the responsibility necessary to respect family rules and manage their behavior in other areas of their life? Do they take care of other items you have bought for them?

‍Do you have the right securities in place? Even the most responsible kids still need supervision when using a cell phone because it isn't just a helpful resource for finding information––it can also unintentionally create an avenue for exposure to things your kids may not be ready to see or provide predators greater access to their devices and information. As a parent, you also have an obligation to be aware of the popular apps and how they work, set up the appropriate privacy settings, stay on top of critical security news and updates, and download a safety app that can watch out for you and your family. One such resource is the OffenderWatch Family Safety App, a free download that provides live location trapping and public records searches to help you stay informed about potentially dangerous child predators in your area. Learn more about the freeFamily Safety App, as well as other premium add-on features available, at www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.

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For more information, visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or check out this article about Online Predators and the Grooming Process for tips to help parents identify red flags and talk to your children about online safety.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

After a year of exams, studying and hectic schedules, the kids are finally out of school. So that means time to relax, but it also means the words ‘I’m Bored’ are going to be heard multiple times.Don’t let them spend hours at a time on their smartphones or tablets. Try alternative ideas.

Get them outside!

Here are some ideas to encourage kids to step away from the blue screens and get active.Set Tech Ground RulesSet an allotted amount of screen time throughout the day and monitor your child’s phone or tablet to make sure they are not overdoing it. Make all mealtimes tech free. Set a certain time at night when technology should be shut down and charge all items in the living room, not their bedrooms.Encourage Physical ActivityPut the tech away and go play in the backyard, go for a hike, or have a nature scavenger hunt.Earn Tech TimeEstablish chores or outdoor activities that must be completed before screentime is awarded.Learning AppsDownload learning or family game apps you can do together. Consider hiking, biking and fitness apps or a family fitness challenge.Online SafetyIf you are going to allow screen time, be sure you know exactly what they are doing and familiarize yourself with what apps they are using. Regardless of the time of year, remind your kids that certain online rules need to always be followed. Do not “friend” anyone they do not know IRL, never give strangers personal information like their home address or phone number and be careful about what they post.

Summertime Safety Tips

Here are some safety reminders for kids playing outside.Stay hydrated: Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when they are engaged in physical activities or spending time outdoors in the heat. Remind them to drink water even if they don't feel thirsty.Sun protection: Teach your child the importance of sun protection. Apply sunscreen with a high SPF to their exposed skin 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. Encourage them to wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing to protect against harmful UV rays.Play safely in water: Whether swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean, ensure your child is always supervised by an adult who knows how to swim. If your child is not a strong swimmer, consider using approved flotation devices. Teach them about water safety rules, such as not running near the pool and never swimming alone.Heat safety: Be cautious about outdoor activities during peak heat hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Encourage your child to take breaks in shaded areas or indoors to cool down. Remind them never to leave pets, or themselves, in a parked car, even for a brief time, as it can quickly become dangerously hot.Insect protection: Apply insect repellent to protect against mosquito bites and tick-borne diseases when spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas. Teach your child to avoid areas with standing water, as they can attract mosquitoes.Playground safety: Inspect playground equipment to ensure it is in good condition and free from hazards. Teach your child to use equipment appropriately and avoid rough play that could lead to falls or injuries. Remind them to watch out for hot surfaces on slides, swings, or metal play structures.Bike safety: If your child rides a bicycle, ensure they always wear a properly fitted helmet. Teach them to follow traffic rules, stay on designated paths, and use appropriate hand signals. Encourage them to ride with a buddy or in groups in well-lit areas and never ride at dusk or in the dark without proper lights.Stay connected: If your child is old enough to be out and about without constant supervision, establish a system to stay connected. Make sure they have a cellphone or another reliable means of communication and set clear rules and boundaries about where they can go and when they should check in with you. Track your kids and locate sex offenders near them and get location notifications as they come and go from set locations. Learn more: www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.Let’s have a healthy, happy, and physically active summer!

Child abuse is a serious problem that affects millions of children around the world. Child abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is a problem that affects all communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.About 1 in 7 children experienced child abuse and neglect in the last year. (Source: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/fastfact.html)Preventing child abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and members of the community all have a role to play in keeping kids safe.Here are a few ways to help prevent child abuse:1. Education and Awareness Parents, caregivers, and teachers need to be aware of the signs of child abuse and how to report it. They should also be aware of the resources available to them, such as hotlines and counseling services.Children should also be aware of their rights and how to protect themselves from abuse. They should be taught to recognize abusive behaviors and to tell a trusted adult if they are being abused.2. Positive ParentingThis type of parenting approach emphasizes love, respect, and understanding. It focuses on building a positive relationship between the parent and child. Positive parenting involves setting clear boundaries and expectations, but also providing children with love and support.3. Support ServicesParents and caregivers should have access to support services that can help them cope with the stresses of parenting. These services can include counseling, parenting classes, and support groups. They can help parents develop the skills they need to be effective caregivers and help prevent abuse.4. Reporting AbuseReporting abuse is a critical step in preventing further harm to a child. Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused should report it immediately to the appropriate authorities. This includes teachers, healthcare providers, and members of the community.By increasing awareness about child and family well-being and working together to implement effective strategies that support families, we can create a safer and healthier world for all children.RESOURCES AVAILABLE:Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)This hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the U.S. and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453). For more information about the hotline, visit https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/.Children’s Maltreatment 2021 Report To see additional data on child maltreatment, you can access this report, available on the Children’s Bureau website, at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/data-research/child-maltreatment.OffenderWatch AppThe OffenderWatch App is a great tool to track your kids, get notified as they come and go from places, and get alerted if they are contacted by a registered sex offender or a person on your watch list. Parents can set up a watchlist of persons who should not contact their child (e.g., an ex with a protective order or a bully) or locations the child should avoid (home of the ex with restraining order, a park where drug users frequent, or the street known for human trafficking).http://www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.

You may have received a notice of a registered sex offender that moved close to where you live. Maybe you are concerned because your child walks to the bus stop past the home of a registered sex offender. Maybe you have the OffenderWatch App on your child’s phone and have located the registered sex offenders located near them. Now how do you talk to your child about sex offenders?How do I Talk to My Kids About Sex Offenders?Grade-schoolers can begin to understand that a person who appears nice can have hurtful intentions.

• Tell your child that while most people care about children and would help them in any situation, some choose to hurt children.
• Stress to your child the importance of being cautious of people they do not know.
• Your child should not walk or ride bikes in the neighborhood without adult supervision, or if old enough, they should only do so in the company of two or more friends.
• Say that an individual who was in prison lives nearby.
• Use the notice to point the individual out to your child and tell them to stay away from that person.

Answering your Child’s QuestionsMany children will accept your directions for steering clear of the person. Others will have questions. You will need to explain further because if you do not, they will find someone else to ask. You want your child to get their information from you.Child: Why was that person in prison?Parent: They hurt a child.Child: What did they do?Parent: They touched the child inappropriately, in their private areas, which is a crime.Child: Why did they do that?Parent: Some things you will not understand until you are older, and this is one of them. I do not completely understand it myself.Further PrecautionsEven after your explanation and warning, you might need to see that an adult escorts your child and their friend's home from school and you may want to keep them from roaming the neighborhood on their bicycle. If approached by the individual in question, tell your child to get away quickly. They should let you know what happened when they get home or tell an adult nearby, or if they have a cell phone, they should call you.Here are some more basic safety skills:

• Teach your child to trust their feelings and say NO and run away from a situation that does not feel right.
• There are some strangers that can assist them if they need help – other parents with children, other children, police in uniform or store clerks.
• Teach your child to dial 911.

What if my child is contacted by a registered sex offender?Do not confront the individual. If the behavior of the individual seems inappropriate, contact your local law enforcement, and inform them of your suspicion. If your child received an email or text message, be sure to save it and take a screen shot of it. If you received an email or postcard notice about an offender, contact the local agency listed on the notice. Or call your local Sheriff’s Office. Your local law enforcement will investigate for you.Download the OffenderWatch AppDownload the OffenderWatch Family Safety App and locate registered sex offenders near your address, your child’s location, and track your child. You can also set up an account for your child and get alerts if a registered sex offender contacts your child through call, text, or email. Click to learn more: https://offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app/.

A frightening trend!

• An online perpetrator sent Ryan a romantic picture of a young female and asked for one of him in return. Immediately after Ryan shared an intimate photo of his own, the cybercriminal demanded $5,000, threatening to make the photo public and send it to Ryan’s family and friends. Hours later, police said, a panicked Ryan took his own life.
• Brian Montgomery lost his 16-year-old son after he took his own life when he was extorted with explicit imagery. His teen son reportedly received a message from an Instagram account, modeling an "attractive" young girl, that lured him into communication after claiming to be a mutual acquaintance.  Eventually, Walker opened a video chat with the perpetrators, who recorded him partaking in sexual activity. Shortly after, they pressed him for $1,000, his father said, using the imagery as leverage. 
• “The Monster knew exactly what to say and what to post to get into a 15-year-old's brain.” Once the hacker had a picture of Braden, Argiro-Markus said her son was threatened and told to pay the predator $1,800 or "else the monster" was going to release it among other pictures the hacker took from Braden's Instagram account. "The messages go on and on for 27 minutes," she wrote. "The last five minutes of B's life, he said over and over again, 'I am only 15, why are you doing this to me? I am only 15, you will ruin my life.' It is a thread that in a way I wish I never read, but here we are." At 11:28 a.m., Braden died by suicide.

Victims of Sextortion Committing Suicide

The FBI reports an explosive increase in teenage boys being targeted online and extorted for money through sextortion.Sextortion has gained popularity among predators because it is something that predators can do through any online site, app, gaming, messaging, or social media platform. Sometimes the predator will make first contact by sending a threat saying they already have a revealing photo or video and are going to share publicly if the teen doesn’t send additional photos. More often, it starts with a teen thinking they are communicating with someone their age, a peer, who is interested in forming a relationship.After they have gained the trust of their victim, the predator will ask for a sexual or risqué photo or video. Once they have received it, they will then threaten to publish it or share it with the teen’s family and friends if they don’t send money or additional photos.These predators know where to reach kids, which ones to target, and how to talk to them on their level. One person the FBI put in prison for this crime was a 40-year-old man who previously worked as a youth minister so he could learn how teens talked to one another.Unfortunately, many teens feel there is no way out of an embarrassing situation like this. The shame, confusion, and fear of this getting out will cause teens anxiety, depression, and in many cases, could lead to suicide.Here are a few suggestions for teens to prevent Sextortion or actions to take if it is happening to you:

• Be very selective about what you share online and especially be wary of strangers. Block or ignore messages from those you don’t know in real life.
• Any content you create online can be made public. Nothing actually “disappears”
• Be aware that people can pretend to be someone different online. Videos and photos on their profiles could be fake.
• Ask for help. If you are receiving messages or requests online that don’t seem right, go to an adult immediately. Screenshot any messages and then block the sender.
• If you are in a sextortion situation, reach out to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report the crime online at tips.fbi.gov. Agents see these cases all the time and have helped thousands of young people. They want to stop the harassment, arrest the predator, and get young people the support they need.
• Remember – you are NOT the one in trouble and you are NOT alone. Although it may feel hopeless, there are professionals available to help you and your family. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about your child, or friend, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States by dialing 988.

Free OffenderWatch Family Safety App

Sexual predators who are convicted are listed on the sheriff’s sex offender registry. Parents can download the free OffenderWatch Family Safety app to see registered offenders who live nearby. Parents can track their children as they come and go from home, school, or a friend’s house and see if sex offenders live nearby them and get alerts from the Sheriff’s office if a registered offender moves into their neighborhood.https://offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app/Visit these links for additional resources and articles:Contact the Suicide and Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/sextortionhttps://tips.fbi.gov/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/20/us/california-ryan-last-sextortion-scam-arrest/index.htmlhttps://www.foxnews.com/media/father-warns-instagram-sextortion-scam-targeting-teen-boys-son-suicide-evilhttps://www.today.com/parents/teens/sextortion-one-mom-warning-parents-sons-death-rcna55471https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/fbi-michigan-teens-suicide-caused-by-sextortion-from-online-predator

New Year, new resolutions, right?Healthy habits, exercising, and drinking more water may be on your list, but if you are a parent,one of those resolutions should be to keep your child safer by educating them on the dangers of predators.Talk to Your KidsIt’s unfortunate that this is a topic parents must address, but child predators never stop. From online grooming, sextortion, and eventually real-life meetings, these predators are constantly searching for their next victims. Most online predators are grooming over 10 victims at a time.

• Remind your child that everything posted on the internet and even messages sent through their phone, could get into the wrong hands, and used against them. 
• Teach them to respect their bodies and not share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids.  
• Remind them to not share any personal information with those they do not know in real life. 
• If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they should immediately come to you so you can take action. 

SextortionAccording to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), over the past year, law enforcement received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides. And that is only the number of those that came forward to report it. A lot of victims are too scared or embarrassed to let anyone know.Using social media platforms, chat rooms, and online games, predators will create fake accounts and begin a conversation, learning which children are lonely, seeking attention, or most vulnerable. Once a child partakes in that conversation, the predator will earn their trust and eventually persuade them to send inappropriate photos or video.Child predators will then tell the child if they do not send money or do something more inappropriate, they will share it with their friends and family. This is sextortion.If Your Child is A Victim of SextortionThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:

• Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
• Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator.  
• Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.
• Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.
• Visit cybertipline.org to report to the FBI for help with the process.
• Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.
• If children don’t feel they have adults in their corner, they can reach out to NCMEC for support at  gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. 

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.We Can HelpParents need to know who their kids are talking to. Download the OffenderWatch family safety app. With the Family Watch subscription, parents can receive alerts if a registered sex offender contacts their child via text, call, or email, track their child’s phone, and get notified if their child lingers near an offender’s residence for a prolonged period.www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.It is everyone’s job to work together to prevent the unthinkable.

Making the decision to buy your child a cell phone is not an easy one. As the holidays approach, chances are, a cell phone will be on their gift list.But are they ready for one? Parents should ask themselves several questions and make sure they are prepared to hand over that responsibility to their child.Is a cell phone a want or a need? Most kids want a cell phone because it’s the cool thing to have. Everyone else has one, so why not? But do they need a cell phone? Do they need to be able to contact you in case of emergencies? Do they need to be able to search the internet for information? Do they need to be able to communicate with friends or use certain apps?Are they mature enough to handle the responsibility? Not only can a cell phone be a great device for information, but it can also be a dangerous device for giving your child access to things they may not be ready to see and giving predators access to your child. Do they show responsibility in other areas of their life? Do they take care of other things you have bought them?Do you have the right securities in place? Even if your child seems responsible, they still need supervision. You need to be aware of the popular apps and how they work, set up the appropriate privacy settings, and download a safety app that can watch out for you, like the OffenderWatch Family Safety App.Learn more at www.offenderwatch.com/offenderwatch-family-safety-app.Important Data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/ourwork/ncmecdataOther Important articles to check out:https://offenderwatch.com/online-predators-and-the-grooming-process/https://offenderwatch.com/tips-for-talking-to-children-about-sex-offenders/

Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!

Do you know whose door your kids are knocking on while trick-or-treating?

Every home may not be safe. There are more than 850,000 registered sex offenders in the United States[1], many convicted of crimes against minors.Before trick-or-treating this Halloween, sheriff’s offices and police departments advise parents to check their local sex offender registry. However, many parents may not know where to look or what information is most important on the registries. OffenderWatch, the nation’s largest network of local and state agencies managing sex offenders, shares its tips on reading and understanding sex offender registries.Safety tips for a safe Halloween:

1. Before you go trick-or-treating, use a sex offender registry published by law enforcement. Not all registries are created equal. Many third-party websites publish outdated sex offender data, claiming it is accurate. Parents and guardians should only trust data provided through local law enforcement. To find your registry, go to your local sheriff’s office or police department's website, state sex registry site, or visit https://www.nsopw.gov.
2. Search an address and use the map to find offenders in your area. While on your county or city’s sex offender registry, input your home address or the address where you’ll be trick-or-treating to view a map of offenders in that area. Print out the map with addresses to take with you.
3. Sign up for email notifications. While on your county or city’s sex offender page, sign up for email notifications so you will know if a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood.
4. Download the OffenderWatch App. NEW Release launching this month with new app features! Download the app on your phone and your child’s phone so you can locate registered sex offenders near you or your family, and be notified should a registered sex offender reach out to your child through call, text, or email. You can also locate your child’s phone while trick-or-treating. New features will include: Notice when your child leaves the house or arrives at a listed location, List locations for monitoring like home, school, or grammy’s house, and create a Watch List of people who should not be contacting your child (e.g. ex with restraining order, school bully, etc.).
5. Talk to your children. If sex offenders live in your neighborhood, point out their house to your children and explain the offender has a criminal record. Tell your children to let you know if the sex offender tries to talk to them or lure them inside.

[1]National Center for Missing& Exploited Children https://www.missingkids.org/ourwork/ncmecdata.

To download Halloween Safety Tips, click the image below:

Click below to download the OffenderWatch App for Android at Google Play Store and for iPhone at the Apple Store.

OffenderWatch partners with law enforcement nationwide to provide technical solutions and a network for managing sex offender registries. With more than 4,000 law enforcement agencies using OffenderWatch, Americans conduct about 1.3 million searches on its sex offender registries per week.“Knowledge is power. We want parents to not only have the information families need to have a safe Halloween, but to also understand that information,” said Mike Cormaci, president and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “We’ve partnered with law enforcement across the country for more than 20 years, helping to improve the sex offender registry and making it easier for both law enforcement and the public to use.”

And just like that, summer is coming to an end and back to school is right around the corner. We've compiled some tips to help ensure you and your kids start the new school year off safely.

Click here to download the pdf: Back to School Safety 2022.

As parents, you have probably used the phrase ‘Stranger Danger” to describe to your kids those people to avoid. However, some kids will heed the warning from their parents, and some would still go with a stranger if offered candy or to assist in looking for a stranger’s lost dog.In today’s world, it’s even scarier because “strangers” can now attempt to contact your kid in real life and online.Although it is a sensitive topic, the best defense for your kids against child sexual predators is to start the conversations early so they are educated and get the correct information from you, and not someone else.Depending on your kid’s age, the conversation may not be as in depth as it might be with a teenager, but here are some examples of what to say in different scenarios.If a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood:

1. Tell your kid that someone who has done something harmful to kids has moved into your area.
2. Because of this, your kid can only venture out into their neighborhood either with a group of friends or under adult supervision, but never alone.
3. If they ask about details of what the offender did, simply say they did something inappropriate to hurt a child.
4. Remember to remind your kid that most people in this world do care about kids, but there are also those that do have harmful intentions towards kids.
5. Make sure your kid is aware of the address of the house to avoid, and if there is a photo of the individual, share that with them as well, so they can recognize the offender.
6. Be open to any questions they have and let them know they can come to you to talk about this matter at any time.
7. Some young kids may not comprehend the subject matter and think it’s a joke or not going to affect them. Tell them to take the situation seriously and reassure them that you are trying to protect them, not just scare them.

Many kids today, as young as 7, have a cell phone. This makes them easily accessible to strangers anywhere. Whether your kid plays online games, talks to other players in chat rooms, engages on social media, or sends texts to “friends”, they could be chatting with or contacted by a child predator.

1. The first thing you need to remind your kid is that everything posted on the internet and even messages sent through their phone, could get into the wrong hands, and used against them.
2. Teach them to respect their bodies and not share any compromising photos of themselves or other kids. And remind them to not share any personal information with those they do not know in real life.
3. If they get a text or message online from a “stranger” or new “friend” that makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, they need to immediately come to you so you can take action.
4. Conduct some “what-if” scenarios to help your child identify warning signs that something is not right, so together you can prevent them from being lured into a bad situation.

Having these conversations does not make you a “helicopter” or nosey parent. It doesn’t even mean you don’t trust your kid.Having these conversations could prevent the unthinkable and it gives them the tools they need to protect themselves.Download the OffenderWatch App, the family safety tool that allows you to track your kids, locate registered sex offenders near your family and send you alerts if your kid is contacted by a registered sex offender through call, text, or email.Learn more: https://offenderwatch.com/sex-offenders-near-me/.

In today’s technology driven world, kids use social media sites, chat rooms, and texting as their primary communication tools. Online predators know this and are constantly roaming these online spaces for their next victims.There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day. Children between 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to being groomed by a predator they have met online. And worse than that, kids may eventually agree to meet this “new friend” in real life.According to the FBI, an estimated 89% of sexual advances directed at kids occur in Internet chatrooms or through instant messaging. The grooming process typically starts with the predator asking a kid for sexually explicit self-photos.Predators use fake profile pictures, fake ages, fake shared hobbies, etc. They establish an online relationship with the victim, complimenting them and gaining their trust, until the groomer moves toward sexual conversations, and eventually, even using those inappropriate photos as blackmail.This process is one that occurs more often than most parents want to believe.If your kid starts to spend an increased amount of time online, becomes very secretive, won’t allow you to see their screen or social media accounts, then talk with them. Don’t let it get so far that they feel they can’t come to you or anyone for help.Help prevent the unthinkable by putting parental controls in place and having the difficult, but necessary, conversations with your kid before they get a cell phone or become active online.The OffenderWatch App is a great tool for parents to track their kids, locate registered sex offenders, and get alerts with unwanted contacts, or if a kid is too close to an offender’s residence.Learn more at www.offenderwatch.com/learn-more.

Family life can become a hectic routine of work, school, meals, bills, and after school activities. But the safety of your kids stays a priority throughout your busy day.Smart phones and the internet bring more access than ever to your kids by predators. Busy parents are looking for tools to make it easier to protect their kids online and on their phones.According to a recent survey by Pew Research Center,Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.Take control of your child’s online safetyBeyond limiting screen time, the majority of parents are concerned about their child being the target of online predators, accessing sexually explicit content, accessing violent content online or being bullied or harassed online. It is important for parents to monitor their kids cell phone and game system use and know what they are doing and who they are talking to. Do they know these people in the real world?How else can parents take control of their child’s safety? The OffenderWatch family safety app alerts parents if:

• A registered sex offender contacts their kid’s phone through text, call, or email, or
• If their kid lingers near a registered offender’s residence for a prolonged period of time.

In addition to tracking your kids on a map, you can also see where registered sex offenders live nearby.Just as putting on a seatbelt became an automatic action as soon as a person sits in a car, cell phone monitoring should also be an automatic process as soon as a kid receives a phone.For a busy family, automatic alerts, child tracking, and contact monitoring gives parents an added layer of protection in preventing the unthinkable.For more information, visit www.offenderwatch.com/learn-more

 Now that the presents have been opened, and your kids have new electronic devices, here are a few tips to make sure they remain safe online with their new digital toys.Safety tips for electronic devices:

1. Know your kid’s passwords. These devices are a big responsibility that they aren’t ready to face alone. Parental supervision is necessary to guide them in their online activity.
2. Set boundaries. Maintain a good balance by setting limits on screen time. Set digital curfews when everyone in the home must disconnect from electronic devices.
3. Talk with your kids about possible negative experiences online. If your kids know ahead of time what signs to watch for when surfing the internet, playing on apps, or chatting online. If someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or is acting strange, let them know they can bring it to your attention so you can handle it together.
4. Look for these dangerous apps. Some apps may appear safe or say they are age appropriate, but these apps are a playground for predators. Know the ins and outs of popular apps that could be dangerous. Click here for a list of apps you should know.
5. Plan some non-tech activities. These electronic devices provide hours of fun, but balance screen time with real life. Plan some non-tech activities like board games, charades, arts and crafts and family outing.
6. You can also download the family safety OffenderWatch App to monitor your kid's phone and alert you if a registered sex offender contacts them through call, email, or text. 

Has your child stopped to talk with a predator? Does your child pass by a registered sex offender’s house when walking back from school or while riding her bike? The OffenderWatch app sends you a text message if your child lingers near a known offender’s residence.

Do you know if registered sex offenders live near your child? 80% of homes in the U.S. are within a mile of a registered offender’s residence. Where do offenders live in your neighborhood?   With the OffenderWatch App, parents:

• Track your child on a map and see if registered offenders live nearby.
• Get an alert if your child lingers too close to a registered offender’s residence.
• Get an alert if a registered offender contacts your child by call, text, or email.
• Click to request a check in from your child.

Thousands of concerned parents downloaded the OffenderWatch App before Halloween to protect their children while trick-or-treating. The following week, the OffenderWatch App sent four proximity alerts to parents alerting them that their child is lingering near a registered offender’s house. We continue to see several alerts each week.Predators are actively trolling for their next victim, grooming up to 13 kids at a time. With 900,000 sex offenders in the U.S., it is imperative for parents to be proactive in your child ’s safety.Many child safety apps charge just to search for offenders nearby or track a child, and some of these have monthly fees. But, for an annual subscription of $9.99, the ENTIRE family can be monitored. Aren’t they worth it? www.offenderwatch.com/learn-more

In today’s hi-tech world, it’s too easy for predators to find and contact potential victims. Children and teens love making friends and posting on social media. But do they really know their online “friends”?

According to the 2020 Human Trafficking Report distributed by the Human Trafficking Institute, the internet is a major platform for traffickers to recruit sex trafficking victims. In 2020, the majority of active sex trafficking cases involved the internet as the primary method of solicitation, with 59% of online victim recruitment in active sex trafficking cases occurring through Facebook.  

The report also states that 53% of victims in active human trafficking cases were children.  

A nonthreatening message, a compliment, or an innocent photo of a smile sent to a predator initiates the grooming process. They hide in online anonymity, entice, and build trust in the victim.  

The report found that human traffickers were most likely to control their victims using nonphysical methods of coercion, such as sextortion or threats of serious harm to them or a family member if they don’t perform a sexual act, fraud, or blackmail.  

This real threat of human trafficking by online predators requires us to teach kids about internet safety and using Facebook.    

A few simple rules for kids:

• DON’T talk to anyone online that you don’t know in real life.  
• DON’T reveal any personal information, your address, or your school. 
• DON’T send photos of yourself to strangers online, especially any that are sexual in nature. 
• DON’T agree to meet a stranger in person that you have met online.  
• DO talk to a parent or a trusted adult if you feel uncomfortable about someone online 

Safety guidelines for parents:

• If you allow your child to use Facebook or other social apps, review the privacy settings. 
• Know who your kid’s friends are online. 
• Encourage your kids to reach out to you and share if a stranger has tried to interact with them inappropriately online. 
• Review the apps that your kids use and stay aware of dangerous apps and popular lingo. 
• Talk your kids about “stranger danger” online as you would in real life situations. 

OffenderWatch offers a great tool to help kids safe: the OffenderWatch App. This app allows you to find sex offenders near you or your family members, and with the premium option, also notifies you should a registered sex offender try to contact your child through text, email or SnapChat. Help us prevent the unthinkable,  

Download the Free OffenderWatch App for Apple.

Download the Free OffenderWatch App for Android.

School’s out for summer and that means more free time for kids to play outdoors and online. Just as you remind them to keep safe outside by applying sunscreen and drinking water to stay hydrated, you should also continue your conversation about online safety:1. Talk to your child about how to be safe online. Children are vulnerable and predators know this. It is important to be honest about online predators, sexting and cyberbullying. Do they know the person they are chatting with in real life? If they see something threatening or scary, will they share it with you immediately? You empower your child by teaching him/her how to handle uncomfortable online situations or contact by a stranger.2. Know what they are doing online.Monitor your child’s access to the Internet including email, chat rooms, instant messengers, and social media apps. Make sure parental controls are set and all devices have virus protection. You should know which social media platforms, games, and other websites they visit often. In a casual way, ask your child who their best friends are online, who they speak with often, and what apps they use (The 22 Dangerous Apps Parents Should Look For On Their Kids' Phones).3. Help your kids develop healthy online habits. Establish rules and screen time limits. Instruct them to never give out their name, address, telephone number, school name, or any other personal information. Never share a photo with a stranger or someone they don’t know in real life. Remind them once something is posted or sent, it can’t be taken back.4. Encourage outdoor activities.The internet has some great resources for fun and education, but summer is a time for them to go outside and enjoy some fresh air. Encourage activities such as riding a bike, walking the dog, or playing a sport with friends.Another helpful tool for summer safety is the free family safety OffenderWatch App, which can locate sex offenders near you and your family members and can alert parents if a registered sex offender contacts your child on their device.Summer can be filled with fun times, just make sure they use their devices safely and responsibly.

Parents should be proactive in protecting their children from online predators. Here are some to things to do now.

The internet is a very powerful tool. Itgivesus instant access to enormous amounts of valuable information,amazingentertainment,and keeps usconnectedwith friends and family. However, asusefuland enjoyableas it is,the internetisa very dangerous place for children.Parentsmustbe aware oftheonlinethreatsto childrenandplay an importantrole inteachingthemhow tosafelymaneuverthrough cyberspace.Some of those online dangers that parents may not think about include sextortion and child predators. Not something you think your child would ever encounter, right? Wrong.According to the following statistics, it is more common than most parents know:

• One in 33 youth received an aggressive sexual solicitation in the past year. This means a predator asked a young person to meet somewhere, called a young person on the phone, and/or sent the young person correspondence, money, or gifts through the U.S. Postal Service. 

                 - Your Internet Safety Survey

• 75% of children are willing to share personal information online about themselves and their family in exchange for goods and services. 

                 - eMarketer

• 25% of children have been exposed to unwanted pornographic material online. 

                - Crimes Against Children Research Center

• Only approximately 25% of children who encountered a sexual approach or solicitation told a parent or adult. 

                 - Crimes Against Children Research CenterHere aresome thingsparentscan do right nowto keepyourchild safe from online predators:

• Talk with your child about online predators and the dangers of chatting with strangers online.  
• Tell them to never share their personal information or revealing images online. Remind children that everything shared online LIVES online. It could eventually reach a predator who could use that image or information to blackmail them into doing something even worse.  
• Enable privacy settings on all electronic devices. 
• Limit your child’s time online. 
• Know your child’s online activities and friends. Have access to their passwords. 
• Regularly check your child’s online activities, social apps, interactive games, and messaging apps.  

Inaddition, parentsshouldinstalltheOffenderWatch Safe Virtual Neighborhoodappon your phone and your child’s phone.By downloading the app and signing up with Safe Virtual Neighborhood, parents are alerted if a registered sex offender engages their children through Snapchat, texts, phone calls or emails. Parents are also alerted if their childlingersnear a sex offender’s home for anextendedtime.By takingtheseeasy and important steps, parents canhelppreventthe unthinkable.

Sexual predators have come to rely on the cover and anonymity of social media to identify, groom, and ensnare victims.  It is easier for criminals to cover their tracks in the digital realm than the terrestrial realm.  In addition, social media platforms, video games and other digital platforms provide predators with the ability to reach out nationally, far beyond their own zip codes. Law enforcement takes special measures when dealing with convicted sex offenders.  Due to the grievous nature of their crimes and their statistical likelihood to re-offend, the activities of convicted sex offenders must be monitored closely, particularly in the digital and social media realm.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, released sex offenders were more than three times as likely as other released prisoners to be arrested for rape or sexual assault.  In addition, half of the released sex offenders had a subsequent arrest that led to a conviction. When watching the news and reading news stories, it is striking how often sex offenders are captured and convicted for their illicit activities, particularly involving computers and digital communications.  The frequency of the appearance of these stories can be disturbing.  But the public, particularly parents, should be glad to know that law enforcement places the effective management of convicted sex offenders as a top priority.

The more arrests and convictions you see of these malignant individuals who seek harm to our most vulnerable, the less of them there are free in our society.

A powerful tool available to both law enforcement and parents is Safe Virtual Neighborhood, a new app developed by OffenderWatch. Safe Virtual Neighborhood, which is available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores, alerts parents and law enforcement if a registered sex offender contacts a child on his/her smart device. With effective monitoring and impactful new technologies like Safe Virtual Neighborhood, law enforcement and parents are better able to work together to protect children and prevent the unthinkable.

For more internet safety tips, follow OffenderWatch on Facebook and Twitter.

We often see questions from parents about the new apps their kids are using. Are they safe? What does this app do? Are there any parental controls I can use? Here are some recommendations from the OffenderWatch Team to help navigate this year’s most popular social media platforms.

Discord

This app originally started as a meeting place for video gamers to chat but has evolved into a platform for text, voice-chat, and video-chat to discuss a variety of topics. Discord users can host their own public or private “servers” that revolve around a certain user or topic, much like a chat room.  

• While many servers are moderated and can be age-appropriate, others are very inappropriate for children because of hateful, inaccurate, or explicit content.

• There are specific “NSFW” servers that require a user to be 18 or older, but these restrictions can be easily bypassed by a user. Discord requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account, but they do not verify users’ age upon sign-up.

Our Recommendation: Teens aged 15+

• If you do allow your child to use Discord, the safest option for a minor is to join a private group comprised of only people they know in real life.  
• Request that your child show you their group’s typical feed to get an understanding of the specific content they’re consuming and contributing to before allowing them to participate further.
• With the right privacy settings and monitoring, Discord can be a safe environment for your child, however, parents should discuss with them how to recognize and deal with online predators before actively using this app.

Parler

Originally created as an alternative to Twitter and Facebook, Parler has grown in popularity with politically conservative people. Marketed as a platform without any censorship, Parler continues to top Apple’s App Store charts since early November 2020. Parler allows for its users to post short messages of up to 1,000 characters in length and direct message users for a private conversation.

• It is harder to be completely anonymous on Parler—users need to submit an email and a phone number to join. Users can also sign up for a “verified” classification that requires a photocopy of a valid driver’s license of picture ID and a selfie.
• Users can auto-block certain words or sensitive material, but it requires effort from the user to initiate these keyword blocks.
• Although the platform does offer some basic community guidelines (no pornography, no death threats allowed, etc.), Parler is its own wild west of communication. They claim to keep banning of users to a minimum, but they have begun increasing their authority as more users begin to join.

Our Recommendation: Adults only

• Although Parler has banned people for inappropriate conduct in the past, they do pride themselves on limiting intervention as much as possible. It’s best to leave Parler to the adults.  

Houseparty

Houseparty is a video chatting app with minimal room for parental control. Friends can communicate through live video and texts in group chats. This can be dangerous—there’s absolutely no screening process upon entry and there are no restrictions on sharing and viewing inappropriate content.  

• Although only users who are friends can invite each other to groups, there’s nothing stopping a potential predator from entering a group chat as long as they’ve already connected with someone on the app.
• Houseparty doesn’t have a moderating system. Unlike static posts that a moderator may review, live chats featured in this app are completely unregulated. It’s impossible to predict what kids might see, especially if they’re in chats with strangers they don’t know.
• Houseparty does allow for users to report or block users they encounter. Once a user is blocked, they will no longer be able to communicate with your child.

Our Recommendation: Teens aged 15+

• We recommend young children refrain from using this app, but if they do, make sure it’s under adult supervision with a parent or guardian within earshot.

Reddit

Reddit has been around for several years and its userbase spans multiple generations. As a microcosm of the internet, this ever-expanding forum offers a variety of content from the mundane to the fascinating. The site and app are made up of “subreddits,” which act as post-based chatrooms centered on a single topic. Anyone can create and moderate a subreddit, making it an endless repository of information on anything you can imagine.  

• Its robust user-based voting system helps police the forums. Responses with the most positive votes float top the top, while negatively reviewed posts get pushed to the bottom of the feed. Usually, this helps with getting rid of inappropriate content organically, but they do offer a moderating component as well.
• It takes little effort to make a new account. Many users make “throwaway” accounts to hide their post history. This kind of anonymity can make it difficult for a user to escape from a potential cyberbullying situation.

Our Recommendation: Teens aged 15+

• We suggest that parents sit down with their children to discuss which forums they which to frequent. Reddit can be a great learning tool, but it’s important for parents to constantly discuss what capacity their teens are using the platform.
• Proceed with caution. Reddit is best for older teens with a critical eye for misinformation and a moderate level of internet safety intelligence.

For more internet safety tips, follow OffenderWatch on Facebook and Twitter.

Parents—Are Your Kids Sexting? What is sexting?Sexting, slang for “sexual texting,” is thesending or receiving of a sexuallysuggestive text, photo, or video via a device.Teens often participate in this kind of interaction to look cool, fit in,flirtor have a “safe” alternative to sex without physical interaction. While it may not transmit STDs,sextingis far from safe.Once a sexually explicit photo is sent to another person, control of that image is out of that person’s hands, and distribution of explicit images of minors is illegal under federal law.Constant access to smartphones and devices in society has allowed an unprecedented amount of interaction among teens. According to a2010 studyon sexting:

• 39% of teens admit to sexting.
• More than one in four adolescents have sent a nude picture of themselves through electronic means. 
• Half of all adolescents have been asked to send a nude picture of themselves. 
• 51% of girls say they feel pressure to take and send explicit photos of themselves.  

Here are some tips from the OffenderWatch team to help your child avoid sending and requesting sexually explicit material:

• Remind them that you will always support them in times of trouble. Sexting can be a very scary subject to talk about, but you need to build trust with your child so that you can be a person to talk to about serious subjects. 
• Ask them if they have talked about sexting with their peers to get an idea of how widespread it is within their social circles. 
• Once a photo is spread through the web, it’s accessible forever. Tell them the social and legal risks associated with sending a nude to another person. Lack of control of a personal image is dangerous, and distribution or ownership of explicit materials can result in legal action.  

• Tell your child that if they’re being threatened or blackmailed by someone to send a nude photo that they need to tell you immediately.  
• Discuss safe cellphone use and set proper boundaries for access as a family.  

As another precaution, parents should download our free safety app called Safe Virtual Neighborhood. With the app, you’ll be able to find sex offenders around your home, find sex offenders near your child’s smartphone device, contact law enforcement, and receive free alerts about sex offenders moving into your neighborhood.Download the OffenderWatch app.For more tips oninternet safety, follow OffenderWatch onFacebook,TwitterandLinkedIn.

Sextortion is an internet crime in which young girls and boys are being increasingly targeted. A young life can be turned upside down by an online predator who takes advantage of youth and vulnerability to terrorize and demand sexually explicit images.

Sextortion [sexual + extortion] is a form of sexual exploitation that happens when a perpetrator uses coercion to obtain sexual images, videos, money, or even sex from a victim, including children and teens. Victims of sextortion can suffer negative effects on establishing their identity, developing self-esteem, and gaining social recognition, all of which can persist throughout their life if not handled with care.

Protect Yourself Against Sextortion

FBI investigators experienced in online child sexual exploitation cases offer these simple tips for young people who might think that sextortion could never happen to them:

• Be vigilant on the internet. It is impossible to guarantee that the person you are speaking with is who they say they are, or if they're acting in a genuine manner.
• Don’t send pictures to strangers. As a general rule on the internet, don’t post any pictures of yourself online that you wouldn’t show to your grandmother.
• If you find yourself being targeted by an online predator, you are not to blame. They are taking advantage of you.
• If you are being targeted by an online predator, tell someone. If you feel you can’t talk to a parent, tell a trusted teacher or counselor. You can also call the FBI, the local police, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline.
• You might be afraid or embarrassed to talk with your parents, but they will most likely understand. A common regret among parents of abused children is that they wish their child had told them about the situation sooner so that they could help. A good parent or guardian is understanding, sympathetic, and just wants to help you.

Consider installing the OffenderWatch family safety app for monitoring contact by registered sex offenders.

Find sex offenders near me, locate my family, and get alerts from law enforcement about sex offenders in my neighborhood. Monitoring adds alerts if a registered offender contacts by call, text, or email or if a child lingers near an offender's address.

Get the FREE OffenderWatch App.