🚨 Sexting & Sextortion: The Hidden Online Dangers Every Parent Must Talk to Their Kids About Today

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How Can Kids Stay Safe Online

If you’re reading this, you probably have a child who’s navigating the online world – or will be soon. And as someone who sees the internet as both a tool and a trap, I want to sound the alarm, not to scare you, but to prepare you.

This isn’t just about rules and screen time. This is about safety, identity, and the emotional wellbeing of our kids. So let’s talk about sexting and sextortion, the two silent predators lurking in your child’s DMs.

💬 What is Sexting?

Sexting is the sharing of explicit messages, photos, or videos via phones or social media. Teens share nude or semi-nude photos of themselves. Or forward compromising pictures of friends or others that they’ve received. Sometimes kids feel like it’s a normal part of flirting or dating. But the emotional, legal, and social consequences can be serious and long-lasting.

Stats: Around 15% of teens are sending sexts, nearly 27% of teens are receiving them. (Covenant Eyes Porn Stats, 2018)

⚠️ What is Sextortion?

Sextortion is when someone threatens to share explicit images or messages unless the victim sends more or pays money. It’s a form of blackmail, and it’s happening more and more to children as young as nine years old.

Let that sink in. Nine.

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📊 What the Research Says

Let’s clear the air with some facts from Thorn’s 2023 research:

• Only 3% of girls and 7% of boys aged 9-12 have sent explicit images.
• 80% of teens do not engage in sexting.

So, no, it’s not “everyone is doing it.” Most kids aren’t. But the few who are? They’re deeply vulnerable to predators who know exactly how to manipulate.

👣 What Can You Do If Your Child Is Pressured?

Here’s what we tell our own kids – and what I urge you to tell yours:

1. Say No. Full stop. You have the right to say no to anything that makes you uncomfortable.
2. Talk to a Trusted Adult. This could be a parent, teacher, coach, or counselor. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to handle it alone.
3. Report It Immediately. Use the CyberTipline (run by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children) to report sextortion or suspicious behavior.

🌐 Helpful Resources for Parents & Kids

• Thorn for Parents: Guidance on how to talk to your child about online safety.
• Common Sense Media: Age-appropriate digital safety tips and app reviews.
• Bark: A parental control app that monitors messages for signs of sextortion, bullying, and more.
• Netsmartz: Interactive and age-specific online safety resources.
• Stop Sextortion: Educational tools and real stories from victims and survivors.

💛 A Final Word from a Fellow Parent

The internet isn’t evil, but it is unfiltered. It’s wild out there on what you might encounter in your next post as you scroll. And while our kids might know how to download apps faster than we do, it’s our job to give them the inner compass to stay safe, strong, and informed.

Please talk to your kids today. Not with fear, but with clarity and love.

Because in a world of predators hiding behind screens, the most powerful protection is still the connection with us.

Kentucky Teen Eli Heacock, 16, Dies After Sextortion by Online Predators

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Truth About Technology – A Digital Literacy Project