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Summer brings more free time—and potentially more exposure to online threats. Parents can help protect children by staying involved in their digital lives, setting clear boundaries and making it easy for them to report uncomfortable encounters without fear of judgment.
Families should talk openly about websites, social platforms and other online activities. Children need to understand that personal details, including addresses and phone numbers, should never be shared online and that they should not chat with people they do not know.
Parents can use age-appropriate content restrictions and establish reasonable limits on screen time. Adults should also model responsible internet use, making online safety a priority for the entire family.
Making Gaming Safer
Parents should become familiar with the games their children play, including their content, age ratings and in-game purchases. Clear time limits can help children balance gaming with schoolwork and other activities.
Regular conversations about gaming can also reveal problems such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content or contact from online predators. Children should know how to recognize troubling behavior and avoid disclosing personal information.
Because gaming platforms and risks change, parents should remain informed and involved.
Preparing Children for Stranger Encounters
Children should understand that a stranger is anyone they do not know well. While most people are kind, children still need to approach unfamiliar people cautiously.
They should never accept gifts or rides from strangers and should remain close to trusted adults. Role-playing can help children practice identifying uncomfortable situations and deciding what to do.
Families should also identify trusted adults and safe places where children can seek help if they feel threatened or uneasy. Open communication is critical so children feel comfortable reporting concerning encounters.
Recognizing Sextortion Warning Signs
Sextortion occurs when someone threatens to distribute private or sensitive material unless the victim meets demands, often involving money. Parents should regularly check in with teenagers about their online interactions and watch for possible warning signs.
Those signs may include becoming unusually secretive, withdrawing from family and friends, spending excessive time on devices, or rapidly changing screens and closing apps when someone approaches. Unexplained financial transactions or new expensive possessions may also warrant attention.
Teenagers should be encouraged to discuss problems without expecting blame or judgment. They should also understand that digital material can remain accessible after it is shared.
Any person who sends sexual messages or images to a child—or asks a child to send them—should be reported. Parents should seek support whenever they suspect their child is being targeted.