Prevent Victimization

Children and adolescents, parents and caregivers, school-based professionals, youth sports coaches, religious leaders, leaders in youth serving organizations, and others can help children stay safe and avoid becoming victims.  Among the steps that can help keep children safe include the following:

• Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan with children before they engage in online activity. Establish clear guidelines, teach children to spot red flags, and encourage children to have open communication with parents and other trusted adults.
• Review games, apps, and social media sites before they are downloaded or used by children. Pay particular attention to apps and sites that feature end-to-end encryption, direct messaging, video chats, file uploads, and user anonymity, which are frequently used in cases of child exploitation.
• Supervise children’s use of the internet, including periodically checking their profiles and posts. Keep electronic devices in open, common areas of the home and consider setting time limits for their use.
• Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls for online games, apps, social media sites, and electronic devices. Research providers’ child and teen safety features to understand what children will and will not have access to.
• Instruct children to avoid sharing personal information, photos, and videos online in public forums or with people they do not know in real life.
• Teach children about body safety and boundaries, including the importance of saying ‘no’ to inappropriate requests both in the physical world and the virtual world.
• Encourage children to tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult if anyone asks them to engage in sexual activity or other inappropriate behavior.