First things first: If your kids are spending too much time texting, set a time limit. Explain that each time they pull We all talk to our kids about stranger danger, so they’re safe walking home from school or playing at a public park. We lock our doors and windows and check up on them when they’re home alone. Our kids are physically safer today than ever before.

But what about guarding the digital doors in our home?

Even from the comfort of the family room couch, our kids can play at an unlimited number of “digital parks” and be surrounded by more stranger danger and predators than would ever be at a neighborhood park.

The reality is that wherever kids are online, so are predators.

Stranger danger today means we have to be vigilant and keep our children digitally safe. Even seemingly innocent online games or apps like FitBit or the Bible App allow micro-interactions with other “like-minded friends.”

It’s easy for predators to fool kids with a good-looking, clean-cut profile picture. So, we need to teach them to identify stranger danger by how that person talks and what they ask, not by how they look.

How can a child know if someone is a predator or “tricky person”?

Predators groom kids by doing the following:

Acting extra nice and complimentary
“You’re very pretty. Has anyone ever told you that before?”
Asking personal questions to create trust
“What things do you like?” “Do your parents ever make you mad?”

Empathizing
“Oh, I’ve felt that way before, too. What happened?”

Keeping things secret
“Let’s not tell anyone we’re friends. Just keep it between us.”

Suggesting secretive apps
“What’s your Snap name? Can we talk more over there?”

Offering gifts
Do you have a Venmo account? I want to send you some money as an early Christmas present.”

Acting pushy
“Hey, why won’t you respond? Don’t be mean to me like this.”

Threatening
“Send me nudes or I’ll tell your parents something bad about you.”

Part of protecting your child digitally means knowing if they have the skills and confidence to walk away from a scary or uncomfortable online situation. Ensure they know they have your permission to leave any conversation for any reason — even if it feels unkind.

Smartphones and predators go hand-in-hand. Is there a safe phone option for kids today?

Kids love it because it looks like a smartphone, and parents love it because there’s no internet, no social media, no games, and no worries.

It comes with unlimited talk and text and 14 essential apps, including a camera, video recorder, fingerprint ID, GPS, calendar, music, and more.

If you’re considering giving your kid their first phone, take online stranger danger seriously and protect them with a Gabb Phone. You’ll be able to safely communicate with them and have peace of mind knowing you’re keeping online predators out of their pocket and out of your home.