Un-exposed: Digital Safety Checklist for Families
- LTJ Staff
- Mar 31
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Keeping Kids Safe Online | Updated March 31, 2026
How to use this checklist: Work through each section at your own pace. You do not need to complete everything at once. Start with Section 1 and Section 2 this week. Return to the rest over the following month. Every action you take is a layer of protection.
Section 1: Understand the Real Threat Landscape
Before you can protect your child, you need to know where the danger lives. Digital grooming is the deliberate process by which an online predator builds false trust with a child, systematically dismantles their boundaries, and moves them toward exploitation. It does not happen in dark alleys. It happens in the everyday apps, games, and platforms your child uses.
What the data tells us:
In 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 546,000+ reports of online enticement, a 192% increase over 2023.
In just the first half of 2025, online enticement reports jumped from 292,951 to 518,720, and reports of generative-AI child-exploitation content soared from 6,835 to 440,419.
Research shows that in 69% of documented grooming cases, sexual content is introduced within the first 30 minutes of contact. Within 24 hours, that figure reaches 98%.
There are an estimated 500,000 active online predators on any given day.
Federal Protections are Changing: The FTC’s 2025 update to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) now requires platforms to obtain active parental consent before sharing children’s data for targeted ads.
The platforms where grooming most commonly begins (2026):
Platform Type | Common Examples | Risk Level |
Online gaming with chat | Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, Discord | Very High |
Direct messaging | Snapchat, Instagram DM, WhatsApp | Very High |
Short-form video | TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts | High |
Live streaming | Twitch, YouTube Live, TikTok Live | High |
Social networking | Instagram, BeReal, X (Twitter) | High |
AI chatbots | Character.AI, Replika, others | Emerging High |
Emerging threats to watch:
Generative-AI "Deepfakes": AI tools that insert a child’s face into nude or sexualized images. UNICEF warns this is a rapidly growing threat.
Financial Sextortion: Offenders coerce youth into sending images, then demand money under threat of exposure.
Sadistic Exploitation Groups: Public messaging platforms used to pressure children into acts of self-harm.
Section 2: Device and Account Setup Checklist
Complete these actions for every device your child uses. Check each box as you finish.
All Devices
Audit every app together. Sit down with your child and go through every app on every device. Delete anything you do not recognize or have not discussed.
Enable built-in family controls. Set up Apple Screen Time (iOS/Mac), Google Family Link (Android), Microsoft Family Safety (Windows/Xbox), or Amazon Kids+. Also, enable platform supervision tools (YouTube Kids, Messenger Kids, TikTok Family Pairing, Instagram Teen Supervision).
Move devices out of bedrooms. The AAP recommends device-free bedrooms as a core safety habit. Create a charging station in a shared area.
Set a nightly device curfew. All devices charge outside the bedroom after a set time (e.g., 9 PM) to reduce late-night contact from predators.
Review location-sharing settings. Turn off location access and personalized advertising for apps that do not need it.
Enable two-factor authentication on every account your child uses, including email and gaming accounts.
Set all social media accounts to private. A public profile gives a stranger insight into your child's life before they ever send a message.
Turn on Safe Search filters (Google/Bing) and restrict app store purchases and downloads.
Gaming Platforms Specifically
Disable or restrict in-game chat for children under 13 on platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Use anonymous gamertags. Do not include real names, school names, city, or birth years.
Review friend lists together. Remove contacts your child cannot verify they know in person.
Set up router-level DNS filtering (e.g., Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for Families) to block categories of harmful content across your entire home network.
Monitoring Tools Worth Knowing
These tools are not replacements for conversation, but they are valuable layers of protection. Transparent use builds trust and safety simultaneously.
Tool | What It Does | Best For |
Built-in Tools (Free) | Apple Screen Time & Google Family Link. The most effective free options for setting screen time schedules, app blocking, basic content filtering, and location tracking. | All ages |
Bark (Paid) | AI scans texts, emails, and 30+ social platforms for grooming, cyberbullying, and self-harm; sends alerts without giving parents full access to every message. | Ages 8–17 |
Qustodio (Paid) | The best comprehensive control across all devices (iOS, Android, Mac, PC); features highly customizable screen time limits, app blocking, and location tracking. | Ages 5–15 |
Norton Family / Aura (Paid) | Norton is a great budget-friendly paid option for strong web filtering. Aura combines parental controls with family identity theft protection. | All ages |
Section 3: Age-Appropriate Digital Use
The AAP’s 2026 policy emphasizes that "digital ecosystems" influence sleep, mood, and development. Quality and context matter more than strict screen-time quotas.
Age Group | 2026 Guidelines & Key Rules |
Under 18 months | Avoid digital media except for video chats with loved ones. No solo use. |
18–24 months | Very limited; choose high-quality programming and watch together. |
2–5 years | Limit to ~1 hour/day of high-quality content. Co-view and discuss. Prioritize hands-on play, outdoor time, and sleep. |
6–12 years | Focus on purposeful media use. Balance screens with schoolwork, sleep, and physical activity. No bedroom screens. Supervised gaming only. |
13–17 years | Support mental health by helping teens curate feeds and manage notifications. Encourage reflection on how platforms affect their mood and sleep. Maintain ongoing conversations about online pressures. |
Screen-free zones every family should establish:
Bedrooms (for all family members, including adults)
The dinner table
The first 30 minutes after school
The hour before bedtime
Section 4: Warning Signs of Digital Grooming
These behavioral indicators may suggest your child is in contact with someone attempting to groom them. One or two signs are enough reason to start a conversation.
Behavioral Red Flags
Spending significantly more time online, especially late at night.
Switching screens or closing devices quickly when you approach.
Becoming secretive, withdrawn, or emotionally volatile after device use.
Receiving unexplained gifts, money, gaming credits, or items.
Using sexual language or referencing sexual content inconsistent with their age.
Talking about a new "friend" you have never met and cannot verify.
Expressing a strong desire to meet an online contact in person.
Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they previously enjoyed.
Showing increased anxiety, depression, or changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
Guarding their phone aggressively or panicking if it is touched.
Mentioning threats involving explicit images, deepfakes, or demands for money.
What Groomers Specifically Do (The Playbook):
Target selection: They study a child's public profile to learn their vulnerabilities.
Building trust: They present as a peer or slightly older friend, offering exceptional flattery and attention.
Filling needs: They identify what the child lacks (validation, attention, peer connection) and provide it.
Isolation: They encourage the child to move to private channels and to keep the relationship secret from parents.
Desensitization: They introduce increasingly inappropriate content gradually, normalizing it over time.
Maintaining control: They use shame, threats, deepfake images, or emotional manipulation to keep the child from disclosing.
Section 5: Family Conversation Starters
The most powerful protection against grooming is a child who feels safe telling you when something feels wrong. Use these prompts to open the door, not to interrogate.
For younger children (ages 6–10):
"Tell me about your favorite game. Who do you play with? Have you ever chatted with someone you do not know in real life?"
"If someone online ever makes you feel weird or uncomfortable, even a little bit, would you tell me? I would never be mad at you."
"What would you do if someone online asked you to keep a secret from me?"
For tweens (ages 11–13):
"I read that predators use gaming apps to reach kids your age. Can we look at your friend list together? I’m not checking up on you; I just want to know who’s in your world."
"What apps do your friends use that I might not know about? You will not get in trouble; I just want to stay current."
"If someone online was being really nice to you and it felt like they understood you better than anyone, would you tell me about them?"
For teens (ages 14–17):
"I know you value your privacy online, and I respect that. I also want you to know that if you ever feel like a situation is getting out of hand, I’m someone you can come to without judgment."
"Have you ever gotten a message from someone you do not know that felt off? What did you do?"
"Can we talk about what you would actually do if someone pressured you for photos or personal information?"
A note on tone: These conversations work best when they are ongoing, low-pressure, and non-punitive. Five minutes of consistent, curious conversation over weeks and months builds more trust than a single "big talk."
Section 6: If You Suspect Grooming — What to Do Right Now
If you believe your child has been or is being groomed, take these steps in order:
Stay calm in front of your child. Your reaction determines whether they continue to talk. Anger, even if justified, can cause them to shut down.
Do not delete anything. Screenshots, chat logs, app histories, and device records are evidence. Do not wipe devices before contacting authorities.
Document what you know. Write down dates, usernames, platforms, and what your child told you.
Report immediately:
NCMEC CyberTipline: cybertipline.org or 1-800-843-5678
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
Local law enforcement: File a report with your local police department.
The platform directly: Every major platform has a mechanism to report predatory behavior.
Remove Exploitative Images: Use NCMEC’s Take It Down service (TakeItDown.NCMEC.org) to hash and remove sexually explicit images created before your child was 18. For adults (over 18), use StopNCII.org.
Contact a trauma-informed professional. Children who have been groomed need clinical support. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a trauma-focused therapist.
Reach out to Leaving the Jar. Our team provides referrals, guidance, and community support for Virginia families navigating these situations.
Section 7: Create Your Family’s Digital Safety Agreement
A family media agreement is not a punishment; it is a shared commitment. Write it together, sign it together, and revisit it every six months as your child grows. (Consider using Common Sense Media’s free Family Tech Planners to guide this conversation).
Your agreement should cover:
Which apps and platforms are approved for use (by age).
Where devices are charged each night and what time screens go off.
What your child will do if they encounter something uncomfortable.
The process for adding a new app or platform.
Agreed consequences for violations (discussed calmly in advance).
When you will review and update the agreement together.
Quick Reference: Emergency Contacts and Resources
Resource | Contact / Website | Purpose |
NCMEC CyberTipline | cybertipline.org / 1-800-843-5678 | Report online exploitation & enticement |
FBI IC3 | Report internet crimes & sextortion | |
Take It Down | Remove sexually explicit images of minors | |
StopNCII | Remove non-consensual images for adults | |
NetSmartz | Free online safety videos & K-12 activities | |
ConnectSafely | Parent guides to apps & parental controls | |
Common Sense Media | Reviews, research, and Family Tech Planners | |
Thorn | Digital safety education and tools | |
Leaving the Jar | Local support and referrals (Northern Virginia) |
A Final Word
You do not have to be a technology expert to protect your child. You have to be present, consistent, and willing to keep the conversation going even when it feels awkward.
The predators targeting children online count on silence. They count on parents feeling too overwhelmed or uninformed to ask hard questions. You asking the questions is the disruption they never planned for. This checklist is a starting point. Your child’s safety is a process, not a one-time project. Review it regularly and adapt it as technology evolves.
Bring This Protection to Your Community
Digital safety starts at the dinner table, but it shouldn't end there. The most resilient communities are those where parents, educators, and leaders are all speaking the same language of prevention. If you want to equip your school, church, or local organization with the tools to identify and disrupt exploitation before it begins, we invite you to Host a Training. Through our Free In Truth Training (FITT), our expert team provides the space and the knowledge; you simply provide the audience. Together, we can turn awareness into a collective shield for our children.
Sources: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports; American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement on Digital Ecosystems; Federal Trade Commission (FTC) COPPA updates; UNICEF; Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); Common Sense Media; ConnectSafely; Thorn.org.
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