By Michaela Gordoni
Millions of kids are on the net and social media, and so are sexual predators.
Bark, a company that makes digital protection software, shared these 10 signs of sextortion every parent should recognize.
- Moving a conversation to a private chat
Predators often move conversations from public forums to private. They’ll also send direct message requests on Snapchat, Whatsapp, Instagram or other social media apps or sites.
- Posing as a woman
A common scenario is when boys and young men are targeted by a profile that appears to belong to a young woman. The predator will often claim to have a mutual friend or offer a flattering compliment to build a relationship.
- Personal conversations
Another red flag is when the conversation gets personal fast. This usually starts as friendly conversation before it becomes sexual. It’s not always the case that predators move fast — some take a lot more time to build trust, so it’s always important to be aware of the kinds of conversations your children are having.
- Asking for photos or personal info
Related: Sextortion Scams ‘Exploding’ Online: What Parents Need To Know
If your child makes a friend online, they shouldn’t need to offer any personal details about themselves. If someone asks for a selfie or wants to know what school they go to or details like their phone number, that could be a red flag.
- Increased anxiety in your child
If your child becomes anxious or depressed, this could be because of the guilt, shame or fear they have from interacting with a predator.
- Pressure to keep conversations a secret
If someone tells your child, “Don’t tell your family or friends about me,” or anything along those lines, that’s a huge red flag.
- Child becomes more secretive around tech
If your child starts to shield away their screens or only use them privately, they may be talking to someone they shouldn’t be.
- Requesting explicit content
Once a sextortionist establishes trust, they will often request explicit images of your child.
- Threats to reveal explicit content
Once the predator has explicit content, they will threaten to expose the images in exchange for money or other value.
- Unexplained financial activity
Sextortionists usually request digital payment through transfers or gift cards. If you notice an exchange of money in your or your child’s account that you’re not aware of, make sure you know what it’s for.
If this happens to your child, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) advises parents to, “Support your child without blaming them. Engaging in a peaceful and honest conversation is a helpful approach for you and your child to understand what’s happening in a supportive manner. Although these kinds of discussions can be overwhelming, it’s important to let your child know that you’re asking questions because you care about their well-being and want to help.”
Children can be hesitant to go to parents out of fear of judgement and discipline.
IWF says, “Reassure your child that your intention is not to punish them.”
If you encounter a sextortionist, you can go to http://www.cybertipline.org/ and make a report.
In this day and age, every parent needs to be on their guard.
Read Next: Sextortion Kills Teens
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