12/15/2024
One tactic used in grooming is keeping the child isolated and unable to speak out.
It is important to remember that grooming has many forms and that it can happen over an extended period, or it can happen quickly.
Someone trying to groom you might:
• Flatter you
• Discuss adult subjects, like s*x
• Send you gifts, like cell phones, bus tickets, or money
• Ask you to keep secrets, such as not telling anyone about your relationship with them
• Turn you against your family and friends; they want you to depend on them
• Share or ask for revealing images
• Blackmail you
Or they may blackmail you. If you’ve shared revealing images or secrets with someone, they may threaten to make them public unless you send more content or money. This type of blackmail is called s*xtortion, and it is a crime. The grooming process varies. In some cases, the grooming process may take longer, and in other cases, it may take hours. If someone is threatening you, you should not give in. Instead, tell an adult you trust and/or report it to NCMEC immediately so they can help report it to law enforcement. Remember that s*xtortion is a crime, and you should not deal with this on your own.
It is important to know that a person might do something harmful to you online even without any of these grooming behaviors. Anything that makes you uncomfortable, afraid, upset, or is inappropriate should be reported, whether or not it is a sign of grooming. Talk to a trusted/safe adult right away about any online behavior that is inappropriate, or if you think someone might be grooming you to do something dangerous or inappropriate. You can also report inappropriate conversations or pictures to the CyberTipline.
To learn more about grooming: https://www.d2l.org/child-grooming-signs-behavior-awareness/
