For Parents & Teachers
The most important thing you can be: the adult they tell.
Young people who are targeted online often stay silent because they fear blame, punishment, or losing their phone. How you talk about online safety now decides whether they come to you later.
⚠️ Warning signs a child may be targeted
- Suddenly withdrawn, anxious, angry or fearful, especially after being online
- Secretive about their phone or accounts; switches screens or hides the device
- New online "friends" you don't know, often older
- Unexplained gifts, gift cards, game currency or packages
- Asking for money urgently, or money missing
- Avoiding school, friends or activities they used to enjoy
- Signs of self-harm, or talking about not wanting to live
💬 Conversation starters
"Has anyone online ever asked you for a photo or made you uncomfortable? You won't be in trouble for telling me."
"If someone ever threatened you online, what would you do? I want you to know I'd help, not punish."
"Which games and apps are you on? Show me how they work."
"If a friend told you something scary that happened online, who would you tell?"
Try the scenarios together. Each one takes about 6–8 minutes and makes a natural conversation starter. Open Awareness Training →
When a child comes to you
Your first reaction matters most.
✓ Do
- Stay calm and listen. Thank them for telling you.
- Say clearly: "This is not your fault." The offender is responsible.
- Keep the evidence: usernames, profile links, messages, dates, and any payment demands. Take screenshots of conversations.
- Stop contact with the offender. Block and report on the platform after saving evidence.
- Report it: NCMEC CyberTipline (report.cybertip.org, 1-800-843-5678), FBI (tips.fbi.gov), or local police.
- Use Take It Down (takeitdown.ncmec.org) for images of a minor.
- Watch their emotional health. If they mention self-harm or suicide, call or text 988 together.
✗ Don't
- Don't blame or shame: "Why would you send that?" teaches them never to tell you again.
- Don't take away their devices as punishment. Many kids hide victimization because they fear this.
- Don't pay a sextortion demand. It usually leads to more demands.
- Don't delete the account or messages before police can review them.
- Don't save, copy, forward or print sexual images of a minor, even to show police. Report it and let investigators collect it.
- Don't confront the offender yourself.
Practical safety settings
Settings help, but the conversation matters more than any app.
| Setting | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Private accounts | Limits who can see photos, friends, school and location. |
| Message requests from friends only | Strangers can't DM out of nowhere, which is how most sextortion starts. |
| Location sharing off (or family only) | Prevents strangers seeing where a child is in real time. |
| Two-step verification | Protects accounts from takeover and impersonation. |
| Game chat limits and parental controls | Most consoles and games can limit chat to friends and restrict purchases. |
| Different usernames per platform | Makes it harder for a harasser to follow a child from a game to social media. |
For teachers & schools
🏫 If a student discloses
- Follow your school's mandated reporting procedures and notify administration.
- If an explicit image of a student is involved, do not view, copy or share it, and do not ask students to forward it. Contact your school resource officer or law enforcement.
- Connect the student with a counselor, and with family when it's safe.
- Threats of violence, stalking, sextortion and image sharing go to law enforcement, not just school discipline.
📚 Using G-CIX in class
- Run a scenario on a projector and let the class vote on each choice.
- After each scenario, ask: "What was the first red flag? What would you say to a friend in this situation?"
- Pair each scenario with its real case for older students.
- Share the Get Help page at the end of every lesson.
- Some scenarios mention suicide. Preview them, and make sure a counselor knows about the lesson.