NetSmartz Workshop NetSmartz411.org NSTeens NetSmartz Kids

NetSmartz Characters

Ask Dr. Sharon

Criminal Activity

Watch this video to learn about the types of potential criminal activities your children could become involved in and how to help keep them out of trouble.

Get Flash Player
Watch more Dr. Sharon videos.

Key Points

key
  • The human brain is not fully mature until after the age of 21.
  • Exposure to high volumes of harmful sexualized or hate-driven materials may lead your teen to participate in inappropriate or possibly illegal activities.
  • Child pornography is defined as the visual depiction of a child younger than 18 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
  • Collecting or trading these images is a criminal offense.
  • Even though sharing sexually provocative photos of themselves amongst friends may seem like harmless fun or a joke, teens need to realize that once such images are posted or shared with others, they can be viewed or used by anyone with access to the Internet.

CyberTipline

Has your child ever been sent inappropriate material by someone he or she met online? Has your child ever inadvertently encountered inappropriate material? These are all types of child sexual exploitation.

Please make a report at CyberTipline.com or by calling 1.800.THE.LOST if you have information that will help in our fight against child sexual exploitation.

Related Dr. Sharon Videos

Parent Action Steps

parents
  • Talk about these activities with your teen, including the consequences of downloading or trading child pornography, communicating a threat, or transmitting sexually explicit images. Point out that these images are photos of actual children being sexually abused — it is not acting or modeling, nor is it a victimless crime.
  • Make your teen aware that illegally downloading games, software, movies, and music could result in criminal charges to you or your teen; research how to legally download files if you want to allow your teen to do this on your computer.
  • If your child has been the target of a threat or harassment on the Internet and you feel that he or she is in danger, it may be necessary to contact your local law enforcement.

Learn More...

Was this information useful?

Questions? Send us an e-mail.