By Michaela Gordoni
Most teens ages 13 to 17 spend an average of nine hours per day online — that’s a big window of opportunity for online predators, so A21 shares some guidelines for parents to keep in mind.
A21 reports 90% of teens spend that time scrolling, browsing and gaming. If the average teen is awake from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., or for 14 hours, then that means about 65% of their time each day is spent on screens.
The more time they spend online, the more dangers they could be susceptible to.
Anti-human trafficking organization A21 suggests parents talk with their kids about “what’s okay to share and what’s not.”
Make sure they know what information about themselves needs to be kept private, especially their address, photos, where they go to school, their phone number and more, A21 advised.
They should also know how to identify red flags. When they interact with others online, make sure they can recognize odd or suspicious behavior and accounts and know how to report them.
Make sure that they know they are never obligated to respond to online contact. If something feels off, they shouldn’t be afraid to say, “no.”
Usernames can indirectly reveal too much. It’s important that they know not to reveal names, birthdates or other details when they create social media and gaming accounts.
Related: 5 Essential iPhone Safety Tips Every Parent Needs to Know
“There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the Tim Tebow Foundation shared last year. “They say children between the ages of 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to being groomed or manipulated by adults they meet online.” The foundation also provided similar guidelines to A21’s and stressed knowing the apps your kids use.
Kids and teens need to know what they’re putting online and who’s seeing it. If a child’s image is circulated, parents can seek help from TakeItDown.org.
Make a rule in your home to never meet online friends. If they’re insistent about seeing someone they met online, go with them and meet in a safe area.
Review their privacy settings with them. Go through the settings together and makes sure they know how to keep themselves protected.
Keep an open line of communication. Assure them that you are on their side and they can always come to you if they’ve been threatened or are concerned about something they saw online, A21 recommends.
The Department of Justice recommends supervising kids’ activity online, “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.”
It adds, “Immediately report suspected online enticement or sexual exploitation of a child by calling 911, contacting the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or filing a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or report.cybertip.org.”
It’s hard to imagine a world that preys on innocent children, but with the internet and social media, that’s the case now more than ever. Parents and guardians must protect their kids online as best they can.
Read Next: What Parents Need to Know About ‘Disturbing’ Network of Online Predators
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