Online predators on gaming platforms, social media, and other sites and apps pose a real threat to youth. That’s why the Know2Protect campaign is working to combat online child sexual exploitation by asking concerned adults to take the Pledge2Protect.
Pledge2Protect, created by the Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect campaign, is a call-to-action aiming to create a global movement against crimes of exploitation targeting kids and teens online. Pledge2Protect is an opportunity to help protect children as well as to learn more about this crime and how communities can help prevent it.
Learn how you can join Mandated Reporter Training and take the Pledge2Protect children and teens against online exploitation.
What is Pledge2Protect?
Interested in keeping kids & teens safe online? Take the Pledge2Protect online and follow the suggested actions for your age bracket. These actions are designed to help everyone understand what steps they can take to work proactively and keep kids safe on the internet.
No matter how old you are, there are steps you can take to keep yourself and those around you safe. Once you’ve taken the pledge, share it online with your friends, family, and community.
Parents and Trusted Adults
Parents & other adults can take the Pledge2Protect kids and teens from online sexual exploitation and abuse by educating themselves and others about this crime, how to prevent it, and how to support those who have been impacted. This includes:
- Fostering open and safe conversations with the youth in their lives
- Sharing internet safety resources from Pledge2Protect
- Familiarizing themselves with parental controls for popular games and social media platforms
- Review their child’s friends lists to stress the importance of knowing who is in your friends and followers lists
- Review Pledge2Protect resources so that they can help if a child they know is a victim of online CSEA
Teens
Teens can take the Pledge2Protect to keep themselves and others safe online by taking steps to avoid online predators and supporting others impacted by this crime. This includes:
- Pledging not to create or share real or AI-generated explicit images
- Reviewing Pledge2Protect resources like the Exit Strategy Checklist, the You’re Never Alone Support Directory, and other information
- Setting all their apps, games, and social media accounts to private and turning off location data services
- Making sure they know who is on their friends and followers lists
Kids
Kids can Pledge2Protect themselves and their friends online by making sure they know what to do if something happens on the internet that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This includes:
- Identifying a trusted adult to go to if something happens online that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable
- Review the Kids & Teens page from Know2Protect with a parent or trusted adult
- Working with an adult to set their apps, games, and social accounts to private and turn off location data services
- Review their friends list with a trusted adult to remove strangers
- Pledging not to create or share harmful content of themselves or their peers online
Next Steps: Take Training from Know2Protect & Simple Learning
The Know2Protect initiative behind the Pledge2Protect campaign is designed to help kids, parents, teachers, and other child safety advocates understand the risks of online sexual exploitation.
As part of that work, Know2Protect partnered with Simple Learning Systems to create a free, 20-minute online course addressing this critical safety issue facing our youth today.
If you’re interested in taking further steps to keep children and teenagers safe online, this training provides a foundation for understanding the issue. Learn more about the free course.
