Skip to content

Digital Responsibility & Sexting Prevention Education

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 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.

Trainings are available to youth, parents, and professionals. See our training menu for more information or contact Kyla Farias at 508-674-6111 or kfarias@jri.org.

 The Problem with Parents, Kids, and Social Media

Monitor children and teens’ actvity on ALL digital devices, such as:

 

  • Computer/Laptops

  • Cell phones

  • Tablets

  • Portable music players

  • Gaming devices

  • E-readers

Be Aware of Online Predators

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.

 

Child Grooming

is 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 falttering comments
  • Send gifts
  • Ask a child to keep secrets
  • Turn them against your family/friends
  • Share or ask for revealing images
  • Blackmail you

Social Consequences of Sexting:

Harrassment

Blackmail

Exploitation

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.

Addressing Sexting

  • Talk about the consequences

  • Tell your child never to forward a sexting image

  • Discuss healthy sexual relationships

  • Talk about ways an image can spread online

  • Report it to the Deparment of Children and Families (a 51-A report is required by any mandated reporter of child abuse in MA)

Massachusetts Department of Children & Families

Fall River | 508-235-9800

New Bedford | 508-910-1000

Taunton/Attleboro | 508-821-7000

After Hours Hotline | 800-792-5200