Fourteen-year old, “Jesse” wasn’t in a chat room. She didn’t even have a smart phone. She was using a tablet and had logged onto the teen-rated free game, “Fun Run.” She thought she was playing online against another teen, but at the end of the game, when the two participants can briefly interact, she received a shocking message from the other “teen” player:

Hey how old are you? Are your parents home? Can you send me a picture?

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The man on the other end of that message then sent her a picture of his privates.

Thankfully, Jesse immediately showed the message to her parents, who took a screen shot of the conversation and went directly to the police department.

Unfortunately, many parents never learn of these predatorial solicitations.

According to marketing research group Harris Interactive for McAfee, Inc, 63% of teens said they know how to hide what they do online from their parents. And what many parents don’t realize is that there are many apps being created today designed to help them do just that.

Dangers facing our children due to the internet and social media are vastly different than what we faced at their age. Not only are they bombarded with invitations to sexually graphic images and games, but they can be easy targets for predators who monitor social media sites you may not even be aware exist.

Mobile messaging apps, game apps with chat features, and vault (hiding) apps have law enforcement concerned. Sites such as: KIK, What’s App, Viber, Telegram, Snapchat, Tinder, Whisper, Google hangouts, etc.

If you think your child is safe because they don’t have a data plan, think again. They simply need access to wi-fi. They don’t even need a smart phone, just a tablet in which they can connect.

In a recent interview with former detective Jason Weis, co-founder of The Demand Project—an organization that fights sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, he shared current statistics and tips every parent and grandparent should be aware of on how to pray and protect their kids and grandkids:

“Parents need to be aware of both the constantly changing apps and language kids use today when communicating. There is often a disconnect between children and parents regarding tech. There are new mobile apps coming out weekly which give predators access to our kids and it changes all the time. New technology has made it easy for the predator to find and follow our kids,” Weis explained.

While none of us are probably shocked at the statistic that 93 percent of teens ages 12 to 17 go online, did you also know:

• one in 25 children ages 10 to 17 received an online sexual solicitation where the solicitor tried to make offline contact.
• 15 percent of cell phone owning teens ages 12 to 17 say they have received sexually suggestive nude/semi-nude images of someone they know via text.
• In 82% of online sex crimes against minors, the offender used the victim’s social networking site to gain information about the victim’s likes and dislikes.
• 65% of online sex offenders used the victim’s social networking site to gain home and school information about the victim.
• 26% of online sex offenders used the victim’s social networking site to gain information about the victim’s whereabouts at a specific time. (Statistics can be found HERE.)

According to Weis, “An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.” So how can we protect our children? “Treat the connections to the internet like a door to your bedroom and monitor traffic accordingly.”

Here are five actions steps and a prayer to help you begin:

1. Know the secret “sexting” codes kids use today. If you check their phone are you able to decode their messages?
2. Work to stay updated on the ever-changing world of apps in which your child may be communicating. For example, did you know the app Yubo encourages teens to connect with new friends? With a simple swipe left or right on their phone they can view a picture and personal data of someone near or far in their 15 million user database. The app also allows them to join live chat rooms in which an unlimited # of people can watch them as they livestream.
3. Check the phones for Vault apps created to help kids hide their online activity from their parents.
4. Limit screen time. 48% of teens who spent at least five hours a day on an electric device had either thought about or attempted suicide.
5. Consider creating a Family Safety Contract. Discuss it as a family and have each one sign it and keep a copy with rules of conduct for safe use. One rule could be that all phones must be docked by 9:00 p.m. each night with parents or the phone privilege is lost for the following day.

“Social media isn’t going away, but you can’t just take it away, or they will simply find another way to gain access,” Weis concluded. “As parents we need to create a balanced approach with our child(ren) to monitor their activity, stay aware of changing trends and maintain ongoing communication with our teen(s).”

Lord, give me wisdom and insight into the internet and social media usage for my children. Holy Spirit I ask you to alert me when my children are in danger. Reveal to me the hidden things that I don’t know, but need to know. I ask that you would protect my children. Hide them under the shadow of your wings. Give them a discerning heart to know when they need to alert me or stop what they are doing. I pray that they would have obedient hearts and a desire to remain pure in thought and body for You.

(Note: The Demand Project, under the direction of husband/wife founders Jason and Kristin Weis, fights to eradicate sex trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children through prevention, prosecution, rescue and restoration. Through their efforts they have been responsible for the arrest and conviction of multiple predators resulting in over a 1000 years jail time. For additional information on how to prevent sex trafficking, protect your child or their Mount Arukah home for victims, go to: www.thedemandproject.org.)

Karen Hardin is an intercessor, author, minister and literary agent.  Her work has appeared in USA Today, World Net Daily, Crosswalk.com, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List, etc. For additional information you can contact her at www.prioritypr.org or karenhardin.com.