Parent playbook · Last reviewed June 2026
Grooming — what parents can do
Grooming is when someone builds trust with a child to exploit them later — often online, often by someone posing as a peer. NCMEC reports that online enticement overwhelmingly involves girls, but boys are at risk too, especially for more explicit exploitation.
Warning signs
- Secret accounts or devices you were asked not to check
- New "friend" they only know from a game or app
- Receiving gifts (Robux, gift cards, phones) from someone they won't name
- Moving chat to Discord, Snapchat, or encrypted apps
- Withdrawal, anxiety when you take the device, or sexual language that seems coached
- Adult insisting on secrecy — "your parents wouldn't understand"
Do this
- Stay calm. Your child needs to know they are not in trouble.
- Document usernames, platforms, and dates — screenshots if safe.
- Lock down platform settings together.
- If an adult solicited sexual content or a meeting → CyberTipline immediately.
- If a meeting was planned or the child is missing → call 911.
Do not
- Blame or shame the child — shame keeps kids silent
- Let them keep chatting to "catch" the predator alone
- Post screenshots publicly naming people before reporting
- Delete evidence before filing a report