Protecting Children in a Digital World: Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day serves as an important reminder that staying informed about the evolving digital landscape is a responsibility that we all share. By understanding online risks, both children and parents can stay empowered, take control of their digital presence, and strengthen their own privacy.
We interviewed a teen, who chose to remain anonymous for protection of their privacy, and is a survivor of financial extortion. The Q&A highlights how even simple actions, like connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, can expose individuals, especially young people, to serious threats online.
Q: Can you briefly share with us what you experienced and what you learned from it?
A: When traveling home from a summer program, my phone connected to the public WiFi at an airport, and was subsequently hacked. A few days later, my mom found charges to various unknown emails amounting to hundreds of dollars. We froze the credit card connected to the account and ended the charges. The hacker then used photos from my camera roll and random pornographic images from the internet to create a collage portraying me as a sex offender. The collage also included my name, phone number, and social media account names. I went into a state of panic when my parents and I called our phone provider to cancel my phone number. It took about 2 hours, but it was done. My social media accounts were also deleted and my contacts were scrubbed. We also contacted Apple to wipe the virus implanted in my phone. This process took a total of about 18 hours. As a final step, my mom filled out a report with the FBI cybercrimes division. I learned to be very careful with my phone and the WiFi I connect to, as well as how to deal with attempts of extortion.
Q: Do you think there's a stigma surrounding boys asking for help? Why do you think this exists, and how can it be changed?
A: I think that there is a serious stigma surrounding boys asking for help. I think that this stigma exists due to various factors. One of which is the fact that boys are not expected to have problems relating to anything sexual. Another important factor is the traditional ideology that men are supposed to be strong and that expressing their emotions and asking for help is inherently not masculine. I think that this stigma can be changed by normalizing boys asking for help regardless of the topic.
Q: Were there any resources/people that you found helpful through this experience? Are there any resources that you wish had been available to you sooner?
A: The person that I found to be the most helpful in guiding me through this process was my mother. She was very good in a high-stress situation and was very calm and collected in reacting to the problem. I wish that resources that would be available to me sooner would be more efficient customer service help from phone and software companies such as Verizon and Apple. I also wish that there would be an emergency hotline from these companies for dealing with cybercrime issues.
Q: Are there any specific behaviors that you now recognize as red flags in online interactions?
A: I recognize that any contact from any person/account that you don’t recognize should raise a red flag. You should also know the person behind the account personally no matter the circumstance. Additionally, any attempts to extort you for money should be red-flagged immediately and no response should be provided.
Q: What advice would you like to share with other youth regarding online safety and being in control of their digital footprint?
A: People need to be incredibly careful about what websites they visit, the WiFi they connect to, and what they post on the Internet. These are incredibly important, as it not only puts the user in control of their digital footprint, but it reduces the risk of sexual exploitation. It also makes the response to such an event much quicker if the user is aware of what websites they are on.
Q: How do you think we can help create a safer internet for everyone, including young people, to reduce the risk of online exploitation or harm?
A: I think that to create a safer internet, we must normalize discussions surrounding the harms of the internet and the dark corners of the web. It is incredibly important for people (especially the youth) to be aware of the possible dangers of the internet and how to avoid them. The best way to create a safer internet and to combat those looking to exploit others is by informing everyone on how to avoid danger and what to do if it finds you.
Resources:
To learn more about the Social Identity Quest, click here.
To learn more about resources for youth, parents, and caregivers, click here.
To learn more about the CyberTipline, click here.
To learn more about Take It Down, click here.
To learn more about children’s rights, click here.
To watch PACT’s educational PSA video about internet safety, click here.