Protecting children from exploitation means rethinking how we approach online behaviour

Perpetrators often utilize the numerous social media, messaging apps, games and forums available online to initiate contact with potential victims. (Shutterstock)

Raising children in the digital age is increasingly challenging. Many younger people are relying more on screens for social interactions. They experiment with new media sharing options, such as TikTok, Snapchat and BeReal, but without necessarily having the ability to consider long-term consequences.

This is normal, as children still have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex: the part of the brain that is responsible for reasoning, decision-making and impulse control.