Know2Protect.gov

A conversation about online child predators with Homeland Security and John Rich:

How cyber predators hunt our children online. If you’re a parent, you do NOT want to miss this. (age appropriate from 6th grade up.)

WARNING! This video is disturbing and is a must need to know. Share this page with everyone you know.

A conversation about online child predators with Homeland Security and John Rich: PLS Repost! https://t.co/zChy4K5HQU

— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) April 23, 2025

Please spread the word. Our children are precious.

I have three children and it was my duty to keep them safe, now, through high school and to set them up for success in college. All three of my children have graduated college and are now productive successful adults in society.

We at AZCollegePlanning.com feel compelled to let parents know that this Scottsdale college planning firm cares about your student’s safety.

Top 10 Tips to Protect Your Child Online

Keeping children safe online requires more than installing parental controls — it takes ongoing conversations, clear rules, and smart habits. Here are ten critical tips to help you safeguard your child’s digital life:

1. Start an Open, Two-Way Conversation with Your Child
   Create an environment where your child feels comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns about their online experiences. Make discussions about online safety a regular, judgment-free part of your relationship. Your goal is to make sure they know they can turn to you if anything ever feels wrong or confusing online.
2. Password-Protect or Control Access to App Stores and Gaming Downloads
   Set up password protection or parental controls on all devices your child uses to ensure they can only download apps, games, and content that you approve. This simple step can dramatically reduce exposure to inappropriate material or hidden in-app dangers.
3. Set Time and Area Limits for Device Use and Establish Check-In Times
   Establish clear rules about when and where your child can use devices. Designate “no-device” zones like the dinner table or bedrooms at night. Also, set daily or weekly device check-in times where you review their online activity together, helping you stay involved without seeming invasive.
4. Set All Apps, Games, and Devices to Private
   Go through each app, game, and device to configure privacy settings. Teach your child to make profiles private, limit who can see their activity, and only connect with people they know in real life.
5. Turn Off Location Data Services on Social Media and Nonessential Apps
   Disable location-sharing settings on your child’s social media accounts and other apps unless absolutely necessary. Location data can be exploited by bad actors, and it’s important to safeguard your child’s whereabouts.
6. Talk About the Permanency of Online Data
   Explain to your child that once something is posted online, it may never truly disappear—even if it’s deleted. Help them understand that their online reputation is permanent, and a careless moment today could have consequences years later.
7. Create an Online Behavior Contract
   Draft an agreement between you and your child that outlines the expectations for their online behavior. Include topics like respecting others, avoiding risky behavior, not sharing personal information, and coming to you if anything feels wrong. Review and update the contract as your child gets older.
8. Know Your Child’s Friend Lists and Remove Strangers
   Regularly review your child’s friend lists on social media and gaming platforms. Make sure they are only connecting with people they know personally. Remove or block strangers and teach your child not to accept friend requests from unknown individuals.
9. Warn About Leaving Games to Chat on Other Platforms
   Teach your child that if someone they meet in a game invites them to chat on a different app or platform, it’s a major red flag. Explain that predators often try to move conversations to less monitored spaces where they can manipulate or exploit kids.
10. Preserve Evidence, Don’t Delete It
    If your child ever encounters inappropriate messages, images, or videos from another user, instruct them not to delete the material. Instead, save usernames, screenshots, and all evidence. Law enforcement needs access to original, unaltered information to pursue investigations.

Safety Checklist

Have the Talk

It’s never too early to begin conversations about online safety. As children grow, the risks they face evolve. Just like teaching them how to cross the street safely, developing strong online safety habits requires continuous education, reminders, and updates tailored to their age and experiences.

For Younger Children:

• Teach them not to click on pop-ups.
  Explain that pop-up ads and random links can sometimes contain viruses or lead to unsafe websites. Make it a rule to ask a trusted adult before clicking on anything unfamiliar.
• Explain the importance of not sharing personal information.
  Children should know never to share their passwords, addresses, phone numbers, or even the names of their schools with strangers online.
• Create a safety plan for inappropriate content.
  Give them clear steps to follow if they see something upsetting online, such as immediately looking away, closing the device, and telling a trusted adult.
• Warn against trusting online acquaintances.
  Help them understand that people they meet online are not always who they say they are. Emphasize that if anyone makes them feel nervous, scared, or uncomfortable, they should tell an adult right away.
• Teach online etiquette and respect.
  Encourage them to be kind and respectful online. Just as they should expect respect from others, they should know to speak up if they feel bullied, disrespected, or targeted.
• Identify a trusted adult.
  Work together to choose a few trusted adults they can turn to if they need help, such as parents, teachers, or family friends.

For Tweens and Teens:

• Reinforce the importance of protecting personal information.
  As children get older, the temptation to overshare online increases. Remind them never to post private details or share inappropriate photos, even with people they trust.
• Discuss sexting and the permanence of online behavior.
  Have honest conversations about the risks of sharing explicit material. Once sent, these images can be saved, shared, and potentially used against them.
• Teach how to recognize online predators.
  Talk about common tactics predators use, such as flattery, gift-giving, and asking kids to keep secrets. Stress that safe adults will never ask for secrecy or try to isolate them from their support system.
• Use privacy controls and restrict location sharing.
  Make sure they know how to set privacy settings on apps and turn off location sharing features that can reveal where they are in real time.
• Address the signs of unsafe behavior.
  Discuss how online predators may try to escalate conversations quickly, ask for private information, or attempt to move chats to different platforms.
• Support friends who might be in trouble.
  If a friend confides in them about inappropriate online interactions, they should encourage the friend to tell a trusted adult immediately. They can also guide friends to helpful resources like Know2Protect.
• Warn against sharing or forwarding sexual abuse material.
  Make it clear that minors can face legal consequences for sharing explicit material, even if they were not the ones who created it. Stress that seeking help is the best option if they have made a mistake.
• Assure them it’s never too late to get help.
  If your teen has already engaged in risky online behavior, let them know they are not alone and that it’s never too late to ask for support and take corrective steps.
• Talk about cyberbullying.
  Explain the harm caused by online harassment and what they can do if they experience or witness cyberbullying, including reporting it and seeking adult help.

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