Parenting Tips: Cyberbullying, Sextortion Real Dangers for Teens

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE TIPS FROM CHRIS VINEIS AT UNITE FOR SAFE SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media platforms can lead to positive connections and learning experiences for young people. But, as pointed out by CEO and founder of Unite for Safe Social Media Chris Vineis, parents need to monitor and set rules for how often, how long, and where teens go online.

And most important, don't dismiss the dangers of cyberbullying and sextortion by thinking they can't happen to your teen. Both are very real.

Jon Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation says teens spend an average of 6-8 hours on screen-based leisure activities, with at least five hours a day on their favorite social media sites. Other studies suggest it's closer to seven. 

With that in mind, there’s little doubt that adolescents are more preoccupied with TikTok and YouTube than homework, as Gallup found in a survey last year.

“This type of obsessive behavior increases risks for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm and even thoughts of suicide,” Ms. Vineis says. Research from 2019 found that adolescents who surfed cyberspace more than three hours a day doubled their risk for mental health issues. 

The American Psychological Association cites data that found over half of teens reported at least one symptom of what could become an addiction to social media. 

That's why parents need a plan on how to talk to their teens about screen time, social media, and cyber-dangers.

In addition to setting time limits, Ms. Vineis suggests parents monitor their teen’s online activities and talk with them about their online experiences. Kids can become unwitting prey for sexual predators or be trapped into sextortion schemes. 

Sextortion happens when young people are coerced into providing sexually explicit images and then held hostage with demands for money to keep the images private. 

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that the number of online enticement reports increased by 300% between 2021 and 2023. The FBI and US Homeland Security reported more than 13,000 instances of sextortion between October 2021 and March 2023. Twenty suicides were connected to these cases. 

“Kids often don’t tell parents about sextortion or cyberbullying,” Ms. Vineis adds. “They may fear punishment, are ashamed and embarrassed, or are already fighting with parents about other issues.” 

She recommends open conversations where parents explain the possible dangers that can arise in a virtual world. “Parents can teach kids how to stay safe, offering ideas such as never sharing personal photos with anyone. An open, non-judgmental approach makes it easier for kids to confide in their parents if an issue arises.” 

Finally, be sure to encourage your teens to take a break and get the sleep they need to stay healthy.

Ms. Vineis says it’s okay to require phones be put away and out of reach after bedtime and during school and homework hours. These breaks also guard against over exposure to virtual stimulation, which can literally change brain functionality and lead to social media addiction. 

Her final reminder: it’s just as important to protect teens virtually as it is to protect them in “real” life.

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