Tips for Teens About Cyberbullying and Sextortion

Kids and teens face an array of online risks from cyberbullying to sextortion and online enticement. A lot of times kids are too embarrassed to admit they are a victim of sextortion. Or they are pressured into taking pictures of themselves that they know are inappropriate but are too scared to say anything. Online predators often using fake profiles and accounts, masquerading as an attractive looking child of similar age as the victim. After creating a connection with a victim, they escalate quickly, using a variety of tactics to pressure the child to send inappropriate photos or videos of themselves.  

To keep our island keiki and teens safe from online predators, police recommend the following tips:

• Talk to your kids. Regular conversations about internet safety can go a long way in increasing trust and open communication.
• Establish smart security, such as fingerprint scans, facial recognition and password locks. A GPS-enabled smartphone is great when using maps, but it can reveal a child’s location through online posts and uploaded photos and should be disabled when a child posts anything online.
• Set boundaries with your kids regarding phone usage, including screen-time limits. Create “blackout” periods and consider restricting what sites they can visit and where they can use their phone. 
• Use parental control apps to see what sites and apps your child is accessing on their smartphone, tablet, or computer.
• Remind your children that once images and or video are sent to someone it is very hard to control where they might end up. What is posted online stays online and can be very difficult to remove. 

The State of Hawaiʻi Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has an information-packed website with interactive games that teach keiki web safety, as well as tools for teens to stay safe online, and lesson plans and classroom activities for teachers.

If you believe someone you know is a victim of exploitation, call 911 or report it on the NCMEC national cyber tipline.