How parents can protect teens from online predators | #childpredator | #onlinepredator | #sextrafficing

HOUSTON – In today’s world, there are so many social media apps people download to their phones as a progressive way of communicating with friends, families, and even strangers from miles and miles away.

There are social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, Kik, Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Discord and even dating apps that have drawn popularity over the years — especially for the younger crowd.

How parents can protect their teens

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the CyberTipline received more than 186,800 reports of online enticement in 2023. More troubling still, these reports surged by over 300% between 2021 and 2023.

Here are some actions parents can take to protect their teens from online predators, per U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

1. Start an open, two-way conversation with your child.

2. Password-protect or control access to your child’s app store and gaming downloads.

3. Set time and area limits for use of devices and set device check-in times.

4. Set all apps, games and devices to private.

5. Turn off location data services on social media and nonessential apps.

6. Talk about data permanency. Online data can last a lifetime.

8. Know your child’s friend lists. Remove strangers.

9. Warn your child that they should never leave a game to chat with someone they don’t know on a different platform.

10. Do not delete messages, images or videos from predators and do not forward any sexually explicit images or videos. Save usernames, screenshots and images or videos as evidence for law enforcement to collect directly from the device.

Texas implements law to protect teens online

In May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the App Store Accountability Act, mandating stricter controls on mobile app marketplaces to protect minors from online predators and safeguard their personal data.

The legislation, formerly known as Senate Bill 2420, requires app stores like Apple’s App Store and Google Play to verify users’ ages when creating accounts and link minors’ accounts to parent or guardian oversight.

The law comes amid growing concerns about online threats to children.

Under the new law, app stores must implement several protective measures:

• Mandatory age verification for all new account creations

• Parental consent requirements for minor users

• Visible age ratings for all applications

• Clear explanations for app rating decisions

• Enhanced encryption of sensitive personal data

• Limited collection of personal information strictly necessary for age verification

The legislation marks Texas as the second state to enact such comprehensive app store regulations. Technology companies must now adapt their platforms to comply with these new requirements, potentially reshaping how mobile applications are distributed in Texas.

The App Store Accountability Act takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, giving technology companies several months to implement the required changes and security measures.