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Mendo Lake Family Life

Keep Kids Safe from Online Predators

With COVID-19, kids are spending more time than ever on the computer, some of it unsupervised. Sexual predators may be taking advantage of this situation. According to a Fox News opinion piece by Beth A. Williams, “reports of potential exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children [NCMEC] more than doubled from 983,734 in March 2019 to 2,027,520 in March 2020.” Predators rely on apps and platforms that feature user anonymity and end-to-end encryption, and they contact children through direct messaging, video chats, and file uploads. For help keeping children safe online, see the Department of Justice’s guidelines at justice.gov/coronavirus/keeping-children-safe-online. Report online sexual exploitation at report.cybertip.org or call NCMEC at 800-843-5678.