Hi all,
I’ve been reading a lot about online sextortion cases lately, and honestly, it’s terrifying as a parent. My daughter is 13 and very active on social media.
I want to talk to her about the risks — but I don’t want to frighten her or make her paranoid about using the internet.
How do you approach this conversation in a healthy, calm way? Any tips?
Hi! It’s great that you’re being proactive. The key is to approach the conversation in a calm, non-judgmental way, focusing on empowering your daughter to make smart decisions online. Start by explaining the risks, but also reassure her that most people use the internet safely. Encourage her to come to you if anything ever feels uncomfortable, and talk about setting boundaries for what she shares online. You could also mention practical steps like enabling privacy settings on social media. For more insights, check out this helpful article https://www.hometownstation.com/featured-stories/safeguarding-children-and-teenagers-from-internet-blackmail-545213
We looked at a short YouTube video (produced by a cyber safety organization, not something graphic) that explained how scammers operate. It made it less abstract.
Then I asked: “If something like that happened, what would you do?” and let them answer first.
