Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
To make the victimization stop, children should tell a trusted adult, a parent, teacher, caregiver, or law enforcement. While it can be embarrassing for the child, coming forward to help law enforcement identify the offender may prevent countless other incidents of sexual exploitation to that victim and others.
“Sometimes we have seen kids stooping into depression, isolating themselves, and committing self-harm, and that is the last thing we want to have happen. Parents need to be intentional with their children when they give them a device. They need to know what that device is, they need to know what applications are on that device, and they need to know who their children are communicating with and explain to them about the dangers,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the special agent in charge of the FBI in North Carolina. “Perpetrators understand how to manipulate and communicate with our kids. Again—it’s their full-time job.”