Kids need guardrails while they’re learning to maneuver technology, but a watchful eye isn’t enough. After all, the ultimate goal is to teach children the tools to handle themselves when they leave the nest. That’s why, addition to monitoring your child’s text messages, it’s equally important to help them develop their own safe texting habits.
Your child should know how to respond to certain types of texts they’re likely to receive, such as harassment, scams, and other red flags. To help start the conversation, we’ve compiled this list of six types of texts to warn your child about.
Bullying is an age-old problem that has taken on a modern twist. Over 20% of kids who’ve experienced bullying say it’s occurred online or over text. And far more have witnessed others being cyberbullied on social media or in group chats.
Teach your child that cyberbullying is not okay. They don’t deserve to be the victim of it, nor should they stand for their peers being bullied. Be clear that if they experience or witness bullying texts, they should come to you for support — no matter what happened or what the message says.
This classic ploy is likely familiar to anyone with a smartphone — even the FBI has covered it. The scammer sends a message disguised to look like it was meant for someone else. When the recipient responds to let them know they have the wrong number, the scammer attempts to keep the communication going by responding with something like, “You sound nice. Maybe we can be friends.” The ultimate goal is to earn the person’s trust so they can take advantage of them.
For kids who are used to communicating heavily over text, this could be an easy trap to fall into. Warn your child not to text with any unfamiliar numbers or share personal information with them. If they’re not sure how to identify a contact, they can bring it up with you.
When monitoring your child’s texts, it’s vital to watch for talk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. But it’s also important to explain to your child that if they get concerning messages from a friend, it’s critical to involve a trusted adult so that their friend can get the support they need to stay safe.
The risks of sexting (sending sexually explicit texts) are real. According to Internet Matters, one in five kids who have sent sexts were pressured to do so. The ramifications can be long-lasting, ranging from legal implications to risks for personal safety.
Requests for sexts can vary. Some common ones are “GNOC” (aka “get naked on camera”), “send nudes,” or noodle emojis like this 🍝, representing “noods.”
Educate your child about sexting and why it’s important not to bend to pressure to send explicit photos — even if it’s someone they’re dating. It’s too easy for images to be shared, screenshotted, and taken out of context.
If your child receives a blackmail attempt over text, it might be very tempting for them to give in. For example, perhaps the person is threatening to post embarrassing photos of them online if they don’t comply. No one should ever be pressured into doing something they aren’t comfortable with, but it can be difficult for kids to maneuver a tricky situation like this on their own. Encourage them to come to you for support if they find themselves the victim of threats over text.
When online predators target kids, a classic stage of the grooming process is to test the child’s boundaries by encouraging them to keep the relationship a secret.
This could take the form of asking them to move the communication to a more private platform like Snapchat, WhatsApp, or Signal, or the predator may overtly instruct them not to tell anyone about the interactions.
These are all warning signs that your child needs to know. If someone makes them feel uncomfortable, they should bring the conversation to you.
Parents need to take an active role in helping their child learn to text safely. This includes both monitoring messages and warning them about harmful texts they might receive. Parents should teach their child to watch out for bullying, scams, threats, sexting requests, and grooming by predators.
If you’re looking for support in monitoring your child’s texts, BrightCanary can help you supervise your child’s texts on Apple devices and direct messages on social media. Learn more about BrightCanary text monitoring.
