Online child exploitation reports increased in 2023. How some are working to prevent it

WASHINGTON (TND) — According to The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, last year there were over 36 million reports of child online exploitation made to its Cyber Tipline; an increase of 12%.

Now, experts are sounding the alarm, saying something needs to be done to help bring those numbers down. But some believe evolving technology is making that harder to do.

"So it's inevitable that we're going to see predators who move to that particular platform, the online platform, to exploit children," said Scott White, Director of the Cybersecurity Program at George Washington University.

One woman looking to combat this growing problem is Lisa Hansen. A mother of three and grandmother to seven, Hansen is also the CEO and Founder of Mothers Against Child Exploitation and Power Over Predators. Both are organizations dedicated to educating parents and children about the dangers of in-person and online abuse.

Hansen tells us at any given time, there can be 500,000 child predators online, lurking on various social media sites and using artificial intelligence, trying to find kids to groom.

"Predators use what's most important to us as individuals to gain access to our trust," said Hansen.

When it comes to prevention, experts say parents need to be extra vigilant about what their kids are doing online.

Plus, making sure kids know what manipulation looks like is a conversation every parent should have.

"You really want to have those connections with your kids by teaching manipulation and how predators use what's most important to you to gain access to your trust," said Hansen.

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