How to protect your kids online: Tips for parents after Sacramento County sex abuse arrest

A Sacramento County man, who was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, was suspected of luring young children to perform sexual acts online using a fake identity on social media.

So far more than 80 children in the U.S. have been identified as victims in the case, in which the suspect created fake social media accounts, posing as a pre-pubscent girl named Lizzy, in order to befriend and communicate with young children as a way to groom them for sexual abuse.

Most victims are between 6 and 13 years old, and the Department of Homeland Security is currently working on identifying 15 other victims from the case who reside internationally.

“Please check your children’s electronic devices if there’s a way they could have had internet contact with people you are not familiar with,” Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Rodney Grassmann said in a video Tuesday.

The Bee gathered advice for parents who are worried about their children’s online activity. Here’s what we know:

Resources

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the Sacramento region, Trend Micro and the Department of Justice have some internet safety tips for parents on how to best protect their children online from dangerous and predatory situations.

The task force also has guidance on its website related to cybersafety, including tips on how to set up parental controls on Apple and Android devices; guide books to various apps like Discord, TikTok and Snapchat; and resources on cyberbullying.

The following information details advice from those three organizations and the FBI.

Research your kids’ apps

Conduct research on apps your children may have already downloaded. Trend Micro, an IT security company, suggests parents download popular apps like Instagram and TikTok to better understand how they work and if they are safe for your children. Apps that have direct messaging, video chats and user anonymity are frequently used by online child predators, according to the company.

Configure security settings on apps

Trend Micro suggests using a strong password and make sure settings are private. Apps regularly update their security settings, so make sure to constantly recheck security features. Turn off geolocation on all devices and apps as well for an added layer of privacy, and only agree to features that are truly required.

Remind kids that nothing they post online is truly private

Even if settings are switched to private, social media apps can still track and monitor users’ behavior, according to Trend Micro. Anything that is posted online will remain permanently on the internet.

Use parental controls

Trend Micro suggests using programs that track your children’s activity on social media. Examples include Screen Time on iPhones to see how much time they’ve spent on apps, and the Family Pairing feature on TikTok, which allows parents to turn off direct messages on the app, set screen time limits and enable content restrictions.

Talk to children about their online activity

Be sure your kids feel comfortable talking about what they see online, which can reveal if anything suspicious is going on and can be an opportunity to further educate them. The task force recommends educating children starting in second grade about digital safety.

The FBI says creating room for open dialogues and educating children on safe online behavior are some of the most important ways to prevent online sexual abuse.

“It’s crucial for caregivers to talk openly—and regularly—to the kids in their care about safe and appropriate online behavior,” the agency wrote in a tweet on Wednesday. “Teach them to recognize red flags before they get the chance to encounter them in the wild.”

Teach children about body safety and other boundaries

The DOJ recommends teaching kids on the importance of saying no to sharing inappropriate photos or videos, and encouraging them to tell a trusted adult if they receive such requests.

The FBI recommends forbidding children from “planning meetups with people they meet online without [parental] presence and permission.”

This story was originally published April 27, 2022 at 12:51 PM.