Children as Digital Targets: Tips for Protection

Though the topic of the PTC program held on Wednesday, November 12 was sensitive, and the information shared during the panel discussion could feel uncomfortable, the presentation made clear that talking about “Children as Digital Targets” is nonetheless an incredibly important conversation for parents to engage in.

The panel discussion, moderated by the program’s organizers Erika Papir and Rachel Fingeroot, aimed to help parents better understand how students in our immediate community are impacted by online sexual offenses including sexual extortion, harassment, and forgery. The program also provided the audience with knowledge about issues that currently exist in our children’s digital world and with actionable steps to better navigate parenting in these complicated times.

Giving the topic a somewhat softer edge, the panelists shared their information in a more relaxed round table discussion with the moderators posing questions to the three expert panelists who included:

Laura Forbes - Bureau Chief & Internet Safety Coordinator, Westchester County D.A.’s office
Detective Chris Moleski - Scarsdale Police Department
Liza Fahey, LCSW - Scarsdale Middle School Youth Outreach Worker

The panel discussion was packed with important and helpful details and here are some of the main take aways:

-Yes, it happens here in Westchester and in Scarsdale. Some parents might believe (because Scarsdale is such a quiet and safe suburb and the students here are incredibly smart and well-educated) - that their kids are protected from cybercrime. Unfortunately, Ms. Forbes related that her office investigates and prosecutes a variety of abuses impacting our children on the internet. As she stated:

“We're seeing harassment , people texting hurtful things to each other. We're seeing bomb threats and school shooting threats, what we call swatting threats. That is not limited to social media, we're seeing that, especially in gaming communities. So when kids are on Xbox or any of those devices, people forget it is actually the internet…We're seeing forgeries. We're seeing kids who are creating fake social media accounts in order to damage a reputation or deceive other people and certainly we are seeing more than ever before internet crimes against children involving sexual extortion. We're seeing it committed by adults on children, as well as we're seeing it children on children, because there are a lot of times where kids don't realize that the behavior that they're engaging in online can get them the attention of law enforcement, it can get them to be the midst of a criminal investigation, whether they realize it or not.”

Ms. Forbes went on to detail instances of sextortion, sex predation, and child sexual abuse material (formerly know as child pornography) that have happned right here in Westchester.

-How do criminals gain access to children? According to the panelists, criminals will use social media platforms, video games, and even text messages to gain access and start chatting with children. They will then try to establish trust with a child by making them feel special often by listening to the child and showing empathy, showing favoritism, and complimenting the child on their looks, personality, and even their intelligence.

Once they feel they have gained the child' s trust, criminals will then try to isolate the minor and try to gain power and control over them. In addition, they will start to desensitize the child by inserting inappropriate jokes into conversations, “accidently” touching them, and keeping secrets with the child.

-What are some possible warning signs that your child has engaged with an online predator? According to the panelists, children might start to become more secretive…they might turn their device (pad or phone) away when a parent is close by. The child might become more moody or withdrawn. The child might have unexplained gifts or money. And they might have a new “friend” that they are defensive of.

-What can parents do to keep their children safe online? Discussed by the three experts during the program, the Westchester County District Attorney Office shares:

HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE: Acquaint yourself with all the features of social media platforms used by your children. Review your children’s friends and followers and regularly monitor usage.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS A FAMILY ENDEAVOR: Use of social media should be a family discussion, including what kinds of pictures are appropriate to post. Parents should have full access to their children’s accounts. Set age-appropriate parental controls when possible. DIGITAL SAFETY Criminals use the internet, social media and text messaging to harass and threaten people, steal money and property, and exploit children. Additionally, children may fall victim to bullying by one or more of their peers through social media posts or direct messages. Here are some useful strategies to help your children avoid falling prey to this conduct.

OBSERVE YOUR CHILD’S PHONE USAGE: Make sure you know how much time your child is spending on their smartphone, tablet and computer. An abrupt change in phone usage patterns (such as suddenly becoming preoccupied with one’s phone), or changes in behavior or personality, could indicate an underlying problem.

TALK WITH OTHER PARENTS: Get to know the parents of children whom your child is communicating with online or via text. Make sure to establish shared expectations for how your children message and interact with their friends online.

-If you or your child is the victim of an online crime, report it to your Local Police or Westchester County District Attorney's Office multi-lingual tips line (914) 995-TIPS (8477) and in case of an emergency always call 911.

For more information please see the following resources:

NCMEC - https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/resources
Internet Matters - https://www.internetmatters.org
Childnet - https://www.childnet.com
Kidpower Online Learning Center - https://learn.kidpower.org/courses-for-parents
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children https://ncmec.org/home
Take It Down https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ -
Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/