1. Somerset County Prosecutor's Office 40 North Bridge Street Somerville, NJ 08876 (908) 231-7100 / www.scpo.net Emerging Threats of Social Media

2.  Sexting  Bullying / Suicide  Sextortion  Child pornography  Pedophiles communicating with children  Pedophiles meeting with children  “Oversharing” of personal information  Access to age-inappropriate information Current trends and problems:

3.  Anonymity  People looking to harm others can be “undercover”  Victims share too much personal information  Victims share personal information too quickly  Users emboldened by anonymity  Targeting and “grooming” of victims much easier  Pervasive / Inescapable  Permanence  Isolation Universal Themes

4.  “Grooming”  Predators will try to isolate a child from family or friends, make them keep secrets.  “Let’s go private”; “Are your parents home?”  Send inappropriate materials or talk about explicit subjects.  “If you don’t do what I ask, I’ll tell your parents / share your photos / etc.”

6.  Console Games  Xbox  Computer Sites/Apps  American Girl  Minecraft  Any site that allows users to interact via the Internet has the potential for predators to engage your children. 6 The Internet & Younger Children

8.  Tell children to talk to a trusted adult if anything makes them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.  Do not respond to messages that are rude or offensive.  Save messages that could be used by law enforcement as evidence.  Don’t post personal information Safety Tips

9.  Establish rules for when they are allowed to use their cell phone, what websites they can visit and what apps they can download.  Review cell phone records for any unknown numbers and late night phone call and texts.  Remind your children that anything they send from their phones can be easily forwarded and shared.  Teach your child never to reveal cell phone numbers or passwords online.  Talk to your child about the possible consequences of sending sexually explicit or provocative images or text messages.  When shopping for a cell phone for your child, research security settings that are available. Tips for Safe Cellphone Use

10.  If they have a profile or blog where other people make comments, check them often.  Tell them not to respond to offensive or embarrassing comments. Delete them and block that person from making additional comments.  i.e. ask.fm

11.  https://www.wiredsafety.org/ https://www.wiredsafety.org/  http://www.missingkids.com/home http://www.missingkids.com/home  The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children  http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents  https://sos.fbi.gov/ https://sos.fbi.gov/ Educational Resources

12. 12 Questions? Assistant Prosecutor W. Brian Stack (908) 575-3320 stack@co.somerset.nj.us Sergeant Doug Brownlie (908) 575-3326 brownlie@co.somerset.nj.us Detective Jeanne Trillhaase (908) 575-3354 trillhaase@co.somerst.nj.us