It has been weighing on my heart to be able to educate children and adults about the dangers of the digital world in our community. I was given the opportunity to become educated and trained in this area, and I’m now an Influenced Certified Digital Safety Instructor through The Exodus Road. This is a prevention education program focused on protecting kids from digital exploitation.
The greatest threat to our children’s safety in the U.S. is closer than we think — right on their phones and computers. In today’s digital world, protecting kids from online exploitation is more urgent than ever.
According to the FBI:
- 80% of child sex crimes involve social media
- Sextortion is now the fastest-growing crime against children in the U.S.
- Over 36 million tips of online child enticement are reported annually, many qualifying as human trafficking
The Influenced program is already making an impact across the country:
- 100% of parents who attend a workshop recommend it
- 99% of teen participants report gaining valuable knowledge
- 84% of teens would recommend it to their peers
Here’s a short video with more info about the program: https://youtu.be/h32pL2F6HvE?si=eZPMHpR6U-M9PBER