Most parents assume a predator hides behind every screen. The facts say otherwise. Research from the University of New Hampshire’s Youth Internet Safety Study shows unwanted sexual solicitations of kids online actually declined sharply over the past two decades. Understanding what is really happening online, instead of reacting to scary headlines, is the first step …
Online grooming rarely looks like a stranger swooping in. It is a slow, deliberate process that builds trust over weeks or even months. A predator’s first move usually is not anything creepy at all. It starts with attention, praise, or treats that make a young person feel special. Understanding how this process works is one …
Online games are where predators now start. Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft are built around chat, friend lists, and in-game gifts. Those same features make them a quiet hunting ground. Week after week, new reports describe children being contacted by strangers inside a game they thought was safe. Grooming in games usually follows a pattern. A …
One of the hardest parts of keeping kids safe online is this simple truth: the person behind a profile may not be who they say they are. Online predators build trust before they strike, and one of their most common tools is a fake identity. They pose as a teen of a similar age, a …
Reports of online enticement targeting kids more than doubled in the first half of 2025. Here’s how predators use financial sextortion, and how to respond.
The FBI is warning parents and caregivers about a growing threat from violent online networks that are actively targeting children and teenagers through gaming platforms, social media, and other online communities. Known collectively as the “764” network, these groups use platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, Discord, and Instagram to identify vulnerable young people, build trust with …
and help protect a child from further harm.
Congress took a major step forward this summer when the House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act — the KIDS Act — a sweeping package of online safety legislation aimed at protecting children from predators, harmful content, and exploitative platforms. The KIDS Act passed the House in late June with a bipartisan 267-117 …
Federal investigators are sounding the alarm about a violent online network that hunts for children inside gaming chats, social media, and private messaging apps. The group, known as 764, has been linked to predators who befriend kids in public game lobbies, then move conversations into private spaces where they use threats and blackmail to pressure …
As students head back to school this fall, there is a new threat parents need to know about: AI-powered nudify apps. These tools use generative AI to create fake nude images from ordinary, fully clothed photos — and they are being used to target teens in schools across the country. The National Center for Missing …