Letter: The urgent reality of online child exploitation

Dear Editor,

The recent report of online child exploitation in our community is more than just another headline—it is a wake-up call. At Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, we witness the devastating impact of digital exploitation, and we know that online predators are not a distant threat—they are here, in our neighborhoods, reaching children through their screens.

It can feel comforting to believe that certain dangers are far away from our families, but online exploitation crosses every boundary—age, background, and community. The truth is, online predators are where kids are: on popular platforms like Snapchat, Discord, and gaming apps. And they are skilled at building trust and exploiting vulnerabilities, often without parents even realizing a conversation has begun.

We’ve spent years teaching our children to be wary of strangers on the street, to stay close in crowded places, and to never talk to someone they don’t know. But what if the real danger isn’t outside the home—it’s already inside?

Through smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles, predators are gaining direct access to children in the most private places—sometimes right in their own bedrooms, behind closed doors, while parents sleep just down the hall. They’re using apps like Discord, Snapchat, and encrypted messaging platforms to groom, manipulate, and exploit children—often in ways that leave no trace. They’re posing as friends, fellow gamers, or even mentors, slowly building trust before making terrifying demands—asking for explicit images, arranging secret meetings, or coercing children into silence through threats and blackmail.

This isn’t a distant, rare crime—it’s happening every day, to children of all ages, in homes just like yours. It’s time for parents to recognize that the front door isn’t the only way danger can enter. The conversation about safety must go beyond “stranger danger” and into the digital world, where predators are waiting—and watching.

The Alarming Reality:

• Over 300 million children worldwide were victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse last year alone.
• In the U.S., the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 36.2 million reports of suspected child exploitation in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year.
• Children as young as 8 years old have been targeted by offenders through private messaging on gaming platforms.

Signs Every Parent Should Know:

• Increased secrecy about online activities
• Spending hours on apps, especially late at night
• Receiving gifts or money from unknown online “friends”
• Emotional changes like sudden withdrawal, anxiety, or irritability

The good news is that prevention is possible. Open conversations and digital boundaries are the first lines of defense. But you don’t have to navigate this alone.

Mission Kids offers completely free programs, led by trained facilitators, to help families stay safe online:

Family Online Safety Night: A free, interactive workshop designed to empower caregivers and children with tools to stay safe online. Participants learn how to:

• Recognize digital red flags and predatory behaviors
• Start meaningful conversations about online safety
• Implement practical steps to safeguard their child’s digital world

Smarter Parents, Safer Kids: A caregiver-focused program providing actionable strategies to build safer digital habits and protect children from exploitation.

You can schedule a session for your group or organization at no cost or join one of our upcoming public workshops. Learn more at https://missionkidscac.org/education-prevention/#caregivers.

At Mission Kids, we believe awareness leads to action, and action leads to protection. Together, we can ensure that our community is not only aware but prepared—to keep every child safe, online and beyond.

Sincerely,

Leslie Slingsby, LSW, MSW
CEO of Services and Operations
Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center

(This is a Letter to the Editor submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of MIssion Kids. The views expressed are Slingsby's own and are not representative of North Penn Now.)