Today is National Child Exploitation Awareness Day.

And while awareness matters… action matters more.

Last night, Child Rescue Coalition CEO, Greg Schiller joined a national conversation to share critical, real-world guidance for parents navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape. His message was clear: the dangers facing children online are not hypothetical or distant, they are happening right now, on the very platforms kids use every day.

The Reality Parents Need to Understand

Online child exploitation is not confined to hidden corners of the internet. It exists in plain sight, within social media apps, gaming platforms, and messaging services that millions of children access daily.

Offenders are increasingly sophisticated. They build trust, groom victims, and exploit vulnerabilities, often without a parent ever realizing what’s happening. What may begin as an innocent conversation can quickly escalate into manipulation, coercion, and abuse.

This is why passive awareness is not enough.

Practical Steps Every Parent Can Take

During the interview, Greg emphasized that protecting children online starts with informed, engaged adults. Some of the most effective steps parents can take include:

• Start open conversations early and often
  Create a safe space where children feel comfortable sharing their online experiences, both good and bad.
• Know the platforms your children use
  Understand how apps work, who your child is interacting with, and what features (like private messaging or disappearing content) may pose risks.
• Set clear boundaries and expectations
  Establish rules around screen time, privacy settings, and acceptable online behavior.
• Be present, not just protective
  Monitoring tools can help, but active involvement and communication are far more powerful.
• Trust your instincts
  Changes in behavior, secrecy, or withdrawal can be warning signs that something is wrong.

Why This Matters Now

The scale and speed of online exploitation have grown dramatically. Technology has made it easier for offenders to access, groom, and exploit children across borders and time zones.

At Child Rescue Coalition, we see this reality every day through our work supporting law enforcement worldwide. Behind every data point is a real child who needs protection, and a predator who must be stopped.

Turning Awareness Into Impact

National Child Exploitation Awareness Day is an important reminder, but it should also be a catalyst.

A catalyst for:

• Conversations at the dinner table
• Parents becoming more digitally aware
• Communities looking out for one another
• Action that protects children before harm occurs

Protecting children starts with informed, empowered adults.

Share this with a parent.
Start the conversation.
Stay involved.

Together, we can move beyond awareness and take meaningful action to keep children safe.

See Greg’s full CBS News interview here.