The Children’s Advocacy Center is committed to educating the community about safe use of digital devices and preventing the online perpetration of youth.
Digital Responsibility:
Digital devices are great for instant communication with friends and family and our online world can be a fun place to socialize. However, the internet is a place where many unsafe people and situations can be found.
In an effort to reduce the risk to youth online, the CAC offers free trainings to the community. Topics covered include: safe posting dos and don’ts; sexting and the related legal and social risks; and online predators and grooming behaviors.
The FBI estimates there are up to 750,000 child predators online.
Online predators may lure minors into doing things such as sexual acts or sending sexually explicit photos/messages.
Online gaming, messaging, chat rooms, etc. could create the opportunity for an online predator to connect with children.
When using the internet REMEMBER… people aren’t always who they say they are.
Monitor children and teens’ activity on ALL digital devices, such as: Computers/Laptops, Cell Phones, Tablets, Gaming Devices, etc.
Child Grooming
When someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking.
Someone trying to groom a child might: Make flattering comments, Send gifts, Ask a child to keep secrets, Turn them against your family/friends, Share or ask for revealing images, and Blackmail
What is Sexting?
Sending Sexual Images or Messages with an Electronic Devices
Legal Consequences of Sexting:
Sending or receiving sexually explicit pictures of a person under age 18 is dissemination of child porn, even when the pictures are of yourself. It is illegal to take them, share them, or possess them.
