Protect Your Child From Online Predators: Free Digital Parenting Guide
4 in 10 minors said they have experienced someone attempting “to befriend and manipulate” them. Is your child prepared?
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32% of minors report having an online-only contact they consider among their closest friends. Do you know how to talk to kids about online friends? “Stranger danger” is no longer a cut-and-dry piece of advice. In the digital age, it is so much easier for young people to connect and form relationships with individuals they only know online. These conversations may happen every day through social media, messaging, or gaming platforms. Learning about social media safety for kids is crucial in today's connected world.
The frequency and anonymity of these connections can make it difficult to identify warning signs of online grooming. Online strangers look like friends, making it easy for kids to let down their guard and miss red flags. These blurred lines between friend and stranger can lead to unsafe online experiences:
- 4 in 10 minors said they have been approached online by someone they believe was attempting “to befriend and manipulate” them.
- Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) minors said they have experienced an online-only contact to invite them “to move from a public chat into a private conversation on a different platform.”
- 1 in 5 teens in recent research reported experiencing sextortion.
- 81% of sextortion threats happened exclusively online.
Caregivers can prepare their children to safely navigate online interactions. We’ve put together a helpful guide that covers connecting with people online, identifying grooming behavior, and covers the increasing threat of sextortion. This free, expert-backed guide provides parenting and online safety advice on how to:
✅ Focus on warning signs of online grooming
✅ Teach your child to recognize inappropriate messages and behaviors
✅ Learn how to talk about grooming and have productive conversations
✅ Support children who have been groomed or experienced sextortion
Preparing Kids for Digital Life
Whether you're deciding when kids should get their first phone or how to prepare kids for online access, this guide covers essential steps. Learn what to teach kids before giving them a phone and discover tips for parenting through online dangers.
This comprehensive online grooming prevention resource is for parents with children beginning to build connections online. The guide includes easy-to-follow discussion scripts to help you start these critical conversations.
What you'll learn inside
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Reframe “strangers” through a digital lens: Help kids distinguish safe online relationships from risky ones
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Understand the stages of grooming: See how groomers target children and establish trust before escalating inappropriate behaviors
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Talking to your child: Step-by-step scripts and conversation starters about online connections, appropriate contacts, and digital safety
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Responding to threats: Where to find resources and support for child victims to stop exploitation and abuse
🎯 This guide is designed for parents and supportive adults who want to empower their children to be access the internet safely from any device.
— Rachel R., Licensed Clinical Social Worker
FAQ
Q: Is this guide really free?
Yes! This resource is 100% free to help parents and caregivers navigate digital safety conversations.
Q: Who created this guide?
Thorn, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from sexual exploitation in the digital age, developed this guide with child safety experts.
Q: Will this help if my child has already been affected?
Yes, this guide includes supportive steps and resources for families facing these challenges.
Q: Does this help with device safety?
Yes! This guide to talking to kids about online safety includes tips for teaching kids device safety and choosing a safe first phone for kids.
