JACKSONVILLE, Fla — One fact of life has not changed as society moves indoors to fight the Coronavirus: predators are still online. Now, the FBI is asking parents to talk with their children about the dangers that exist.
Across the First Coast, thousands of children of all ages have shifted to online learning, spending more time at home than ever before. FBI Jacksonville Special Agent Robert Schwinger said predators are aware of that.
"Parents need to be mindful of what their kids are doing online," Schwinger said. "The message we're trying to get out is there is truly an increased vulnerability now the more time kids are spending online."
Schwinger said websites or applications with chat rooms should be especially monitored because they present an opportunity for a predator to "groom."
"This person who says they're a kid your age and is talking to you may very well not be a kid your age," he said.
There are a number of signs to keep an eye out for that indicate child exploitation:
- Angry outbursts
- Withdrawn behavior
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Not age-appropriate sexual knowledge
- Nightmares
- Being uncomfortable if left alone with a specific person
Schwinger suggests having a conversation with your child while spending time at home. Explain the dangers associated with being on the Internet.
"We see all the time from cases that we work when we show up and we talk to the parents, we hear all the time, 'I had no idea. I didn't even know this app existed,'" Schwinger said.
The FBI provides a detailed list of signs, as well as resources to report child exploitation, on their website. They also have an educational game for children from 3rd-grade through 8th-grade that teaches about how to navigate websites safely.