Parents of 13-17 year olds
The Teen Years - Focus: Digital Vigilance & Peer-on-Peer Safety
Teens face unique risks, including online grooming and peer-on-peer abuse. Offenders often use "romance language" to create secrecy and dependency.
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The Transparency Mandate: All digital communication with adults (coaches, teachers, mentors) must be transparent and observable. No private DMs; use group chats or copy parents.
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Identifying Online Clusters: Be alert if your teen becomes secretive with devices, receives unexplained gaming credits/gifts, or shows sudden mood changes after being online.
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Peer-on-Peer Abuse: More than one-third of abuse cases are committed by youth under 18. Teach your teen about consent and the dangers of digital "dares" or sexualized group chats.
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The "Safe Adult" Response: If your teen discloses harm, stay calm. Avoid saying "I believe you," as it can legally taint an investigation. Instead, use neutral affirmations: "Thank you for telling me. You did the right thing. My job is to help you be safe."
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