FBI: COVID-19 crisis may make teens, pre-teens vulnerable to online predators

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Federal authorities are concerned about a rise in reports of predators using social media apps during the COVID-19 crisis to sexually exploit teens and pre-teens.

J.J. Klaver, a retired FBI supervisor in Philadelphia, says kids at home because of COVID-19 shutdowns are spending more down time on Instagram, Snapchat and Kik, alone in their bedrooms, while parents are busy working online elsewhere in the house.

Klaver says those popular social media apps are also where predators are waiting.

“You could have an adult posing as a teen or pre-teen to try and make a connection with someone to get them to send pictures,” Klaver said.

A predator will ask a target for a nude picture, and then insist on another and then another, Klaver said. 

He says parents need to speak with their kids about the potential dangers of social media. 

“Be wary of electronic interactions with strangers, not knowing who you’re interacting with,” he said.”It might be someone who’s posing as a child — or someone who’s the same age as them.” 

Klaver suggests parents might want to allow computer and phone usage only during certain times and only in open areas.

“So you can’t be locked in your bedroom doing this. You have to be in the kitchen or living room, where you can be monitored,” Klaver said. “Obviously, that has challenges in this day and age with the ubiquity of smart phones and tablets.”

Klaver says if parents find their child has been a victim, they need to report it to local law enforcement.

“There are task forces out there that are specifically targeting child sex predators on the internet.”

He says honest communication between parents and children is crucial to slowing predators down.