August 21, 2025

As families, students and teachers prepare for the new school season, we wanted to take some time to cover one of the toughest battles for parents today: keeping their kids safe on the internet. The internet can be a dangerous place. It connects us with millions of people from all walks of life—and unfortunately, some of those people have bad intentions.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported a 197% increase in reported CyberTips—totaling 36.2 million reports—and a staggering 1,325% increase in AI-generated CSAM (child sexual abuse material) cases. These numbers are only expected to rise.

So, what is being done about it? While there are law enforcement task forces like Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) and new laws being passed to prevent CSAM, it’s simply not enough.

So, What’s the Answer?

It’s simple: Education and communication, not just for children, but for us as parents too. Fortunately, there are great online resources that can help us educate both ourselves and our children.

One of my favorite resources is NetSmartz, a program by NCMEC. It provides interactive games, videos, and resources for children of all ages to learn about online dangers. It also offers helpful materials for parents to guide their conversations.

Mistakes Will Happen!

Even with all the education in the world, kids will make mistakes online. Just look at adults—many still fall victim to online fraud, which is now a billion-dollar industry. We can’t expect our kids to be perfect either; mistakes are how we learn best as humans.

The goal of education isn’t to prevent every mistake it’s to teach kids how to recognize warning signs and know what to do before a mistake becomes too serious. It’s also about creating an open line of communication with a trusted adult.

As my father always said:

“Son, I’ve never made a mistake in my life—because I’ve learned from all of them. That makes them learning experiences.”

Expect mistakes. The goal is to make sure they’re small and that every mistake becomes a learning experience.

My Favorite Resource from NetSmartz

One of the most valuable tools from NetSmartz is a guide called “Protecting Your Kids Online 2.0.” It presents a simple, three-step approach: Connect, Learn, Engage.

1. Connect

This first step is all about setting clear ground rules and having honest conversations about them. These rules might include limits on screen time, restrictions on certain apps or websites, or guidelines about online behavior. The key is to ensure everyone understands what’s expected.

This phase also involves researching devices, apps, and games before purchase. Ask questions like:

• Does this game or app allow in-game chat or direct messaging?
• Can users send images, videos, or share their location?

While monitoring tools may seem like an easy solution, they aren’t foolproof. Kids determined to bypass controls often can. Instead, focus on teaching them about risks, warning signs, and what to do if something goes wrong.

2. Learn

This step falls mainly on parents. You need to learn about the platforms your kids are using whether it’s a video game or a social media site. Understand how strangers can contact them and review the platform’s privacy settings.

Start teaching kids about:

• Sexual conversations, roleplay, and grooming behaviors
• The importance of never sharing personal information like their school, sports team, or favorite hangouts
• Recognizing red flags such as:
  • Unsolicited inappropriate images or videos
  • Promises of gifts or free items
  • Strangers pretending to be younger
  • Threats or extortion tactics (“I’ll tell your parents/school!”)

Mistakes will happen. But if kids know the red flags, they’ll be more likely to stop before something serious happens and, ideally, they’ll feel comfortable telling a trusted adult

3. Engage

The final step is engagement, which means having ongoing, open conversations about online safety.

Personally, I aim for a monthly chat with my kids. I ask if they’ve noticed anything suspicious, remind them about online red flags, and reinforce that they can always come to me if something feels wrong.

Another great way to engage? Play their favorite games with them! Challenge them to a duel it’s fun and also lets you learn more about the platform they’re using. This helps build trust and shows you care about their interests, making it easier for them to open up.

Lastly, be prepared for how you’ll respond if your child comes to you with a mistake. While every family disciplines differently, I encourage you to focus more on communication than punishment. The goal isn’t just to “punish” it’s to encourage honesty and prevent more serious problems down the line.

How to Report It

When an online incident happens, here’s what to do:

1. Report it to the platform or app where the issue occurred.
   • Don’t delete anything, until you have made your report or took screenshots.
2. Submit a CyberTip to NCMEC (https://report.cybertip.org/).
   • Anyone can file a report, anonymously or with contact info.
     • You can upload screenshots or files.
     • NCMEC reviews every tip and forwards it to the appropriate provider and law enforcement, if necessary.
3. Involve law enforcement, if the situation is serious.

Before reporting, review the incident carefully. Is it simply an inappropriate conversation, or something more severe? Don’t delete messages or evidence; you’ll need to provide this information to investigators.

Once reported, sit down with your child. Make sure they understand what happened, talk through next steps, and explain any consequences clearly, again, balancing discipline with communication.

Summary

Education, for both parents and kid, is the only way to prevent online crimes against children. We can’t shield kids from technology entirely, so we must teach them how to navigate it responsibly.

Resources like NetSmartz offer incredible tools for both parents and children. And remember there are thousands of law enforcement officers and volunteers working every day to make the internet safer.

Don’t be afraid to have these conversations. Your kids will make mistakes, but mistakes are often our greatest teachers. The key is to catch red flags early and turn every misstep into a learning opportunity.

Lastly, if you’re able, consider donating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Their work is crucial in keeping our kids safe online.

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Check out our webinar, “Online Targeting of Minors & Child Extortion.”