Keep your child safe from online harm this school year

By Melissa Powers, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney

“Back to school” is always an exciting time for families in our area. You can feel the anticipation in the air as families adjust to fresh schedules, sports teams begin their seasons and school buses roll through our community. As a mother of four (now a grandmother of five), I always look forward to this time of year.

I took the job as Hamilton County prosecuting attorney in January of 2023. Before taking over this role, I spent all my three-decade career in criminal law, first as a prosecutor, then as a civil and defense attorney, and finally as a judge. In that time, I’ve seen a lot.

That’s why online safety is one of my biggest concerns for today’s youth.

Specifically, I’m worried about a new trend called “Sextortion.”

This crime is a form of sexual exploitation. Often, sextortion involves a criminal, either an adult or sometimes a peer, coercing a minor to do things by using or threatening to use sexual images and videos of the victim they have acquired. The extorter may demand the teen carry out a crime, pay them money or send them more explicit images.

It is the kind of crime that doesn’t leave a mark or any other visible way of showing someone has been victimized. It can happen to children of all ages and backgrounds. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported almost 8,000 sextortion tips to their hotline recently, which has the FBI also on high alert.

“The FBI has seen a surge in online sextortion schemes,” FBI Cincinnati Special Agent Elena Iatarola told me this summer. “We recommend parents talk with their children at an age-appropriate level about the risks of being online and the potential harm that can occur when sharing images.”

Thankfully, there are ways to fight back as a parent.

First, recognize that anyone can become a victim of sextortion. Signs include withdrawal from family or friends, changes in behavior, self-harm, drops in grades or a loss of focus on school.

Second, have an open line of communication with your child. Remind them it isn’t their fault if they are a victim. Let them know the dangers of sending images of themselves to anyone and remind them that “the internet is forever.”

Third, monitor your child’s activities on their devices and make sure webcams are covered when not in use.

Finally, I want you to know that you are not alone if this kind of crime happens to your family. Reach out to either your local law enforcement, the local FBI or my office if you suspect your child is being targeted for this type of exploitation. We are all working together to ensure that victims can get the help they need to break out of these cycles of exploitation and that the criminals responsible end up behind bars.

Together, we can keep our children safe during this school year.