Guard Up! Online Safety for Kids: Protecting Children From Cyberbullying and Predators

The Student on My Mat

Let me tell you about a student of mine.

A young girl came to my dojang carrying something no child should have to carry. Kids at school were on their phones every day sending her hurtful messages. Breaking her down. Trying to embarrass her. Doing it in group chats. Doing it in comments. Doing it in ways she could not escape by walking home from school, because now school followed her home through the screen in her pocket.

When she stepped on my mat, I could see it. In her face. In the way she stood. In the way she could not meet my eye. This is what cyberbullying does to a child. It gets inside them in ways the old playground bully never could.

The old bully went home when the bell rang. The screen never goes home.

This Is Real. And It Is Killing Kids.

I want to say something plainly to every parent reading this column.

There are children right now being cyberbullied, harassed, groomed, and manipulated through their phones. Some of them are your child's classmates. Some of them live in your neighborhood. There are real cases across this country of teens who could not carry what was being done to them online. They hurt themselves. Some took their own lives. And most of their parents did not know what was happening until it was too late.

This is not a lecture about screen time. This is a warning.

Three Threats Coming for Your Child

Let me name three of the biggest threats coming for your child through their phone.

1. Predators grooming kids through gaming apps. Video games are social platforms now. Strangers voice-chat with your child while they play. They ask innocent questions first. Age. School. Location. Whether their parents are home. They spend weeks or months building trust before they ask for anything else. By the time they do, your child does not see a stranger. They see a friend.
2. Sextortion. A predator convinces a young person to send a photo they should never have sent. Then the predator threatens to release it unless the young person sends more, sends money, or does something worse. It is happening every day in this country. It is one of the fastest-growing crimes against children.
3. Fake AI people. Artificial intelligence can now create fake profiles, fake voices, and even fake video of people who do not exist. Your child cannot always tell who is real. And a machine on the other side is helping the predator know exactly what to say.

The Rules in My House

Let me tell you what we do in the Henry household.

We limit social media for our kids, because social media should not define who they are. We limit their time on phones. And we do not allow them on every platform out there until they understand their own self-worth. That last one matters more than the first two.

A child who knows who they are is much harder to break down through a screen.

A child who does not know who they are is exactly who a cyberbully or a predator is looking for. So before I give any of my kids full access to the social world through their phone, I make sure I have taught them who they are in the real world first.

What Every Parent Must Do This Week

Here is the practical work.

Check their phone. Randomly. Every parent should have every password. Every parent should be able to open every app on that phone. This is not a violation of your child's privacy. This is your job. Check their social media accounts. Randomly. Read the messages. See who they are talking to. See what is being said.

Connect your account to theirs. Most platforms have parental controls. Use them. You should be able to see who your child is following, who is following them, and what is being sent to their inbox at all times. Teach them the rules. Never give personal information to anyone online. Never send a photo they would not want their grandmother to see. If a stranger online starts asking personal questions, stop the conversation and tell you. If someone online is making them feel bad about themselves, that is not just a bully. That is a threat. And most importantly. Make it safe for them to come to you. If your child is afraid to tell you what is happening on their phone, they will carry it alone. Kids who carry it alone are the ones who get hurt.

Reflection

When was the last time you looked at your child's phone? Not asked. Looked.

If it has been more than a week, this is where you start. If your child or someone you love is struggling with cyberbullying, online harassment, or thoughts of self-harm, help is available around the clock. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline any time, day or night.

Guard up!

For Speaking, Seminars, or Self-Defense Training Contact:

Grand Master Evan R. Henry

Founder, New Creation Taekwondo  •  Senior Pastor, Infinite Hope Global

Follow @TheGrandMasterPastor on TikTok

Business: (848) 217-2202

Thanks for reading the whole story!

At Atlantic City Focus, we're committed to providing a platform where the diverse voices of our community can be heard, respected, and celebrated. As an independent online news platform, we rely on a unique mix of affordable advertising and the support of readers like you to continue delivering quality, community journalism that matters. Please support the businesses and organizations that support us by clicking on their ads. And by making a tax deductible donation today, you become a catalyst for change helping to amplify the authentic voices that might otherwise go unheard. And every contribution is greatly appreciated. Join us in making a difference—one uplifting story at a time!

The Unity & Heritage Exhibition is on display until December at The African American Heritage Museum Of Southern New Jersey.