What Every Parent Needs to Know About Kids, Screens, and Online Exploitation, Episode #172

Today’s episode is a special sneak peek from one of the powerful masterclasses featured in the upcoming ICP Summit 2026 — and if your child has a smartphone, gaming console, or social media account, this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss.

In this urgent and eye-opening episode of The Child Psych Podcast, we sit down with Constable Scott Sterling and Constable Stephanie Bosch from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit to talk about what is really happening behind children’s screens today.

Together, we unpack the growing realities families are facing online — including sextortion, online grooming, explicit image sharing, gaming-based exploitation, and the emotional devastation many children experience when private images are spread or threats begin.

But this conversation is not about panic or fear.

It is about prevention, awareness, and giving parents the knowledge they need before a crisis happens.

Scott and Stephanie explain how offenders build trust with children through games, social media apps, and private messaging platforms, why even “good kids from good homes” are vulnerable, and what warning signs parents should never ignore. Most importantly, they share practical, immediate strategies parents can use to reduce risk, strengthen communication, and create homes where children feel safe asking for help.

We also discuss:

• What to say to your child tonight about online safety
• The biggest mistakes parents unknowingly make online
• What to do immediately if your child is being threatened or sextorted
• Why shame keeps many children silent
• The emotional impact online exploitation has on kids and teens
• How connection and open communication protect children more than monitoring alone

This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had for parents navigating today’s digital world.

Please listen. Share it. And start the conversation before your child needs it.

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