Who’s in the Room with Your Child?

Kelly Diane
3 days ago
3 min read

Last Thursday, I asked the High School girls in the Young Women’s Empowerment Academy a question, and their answer made me so mad. Not at them, but at the predators that they have to deal with on the daily basis.

I said, “How many of you have ever been approached by a grown man... like, in real life? Not online. I mean walking to the store, at the mall, when you're leaving school, anywhere?”

Almost every single hand went up.

I’m talking about GROWN MEN in their mid to late 20s, 30s, and 40s looking right at these teenage girls who are clearly still kids AND have communicated that they are still kids... but these creeps still say "they don't care". Bookbags. Braces. Uniforms. And these pedos still shoot their shot.

That made me sooooo mad and reminded me... that predators don’t care!!!

UNLESS WE MAKE THEM CARE BY EXPOSING THEM!

If people are that bold to approach children in person, what makes you think they won’t be twice as bold online, where they can hide behind a screen, use fake names, and pretend to be anyone they want?

We have to stop picturing predators as creepy strangers in dark alleys. They’re in DMs. They’re in game chats. They’re commenting on TikToks, sliding into inboxes, and acting like “friends.”

They study what kids like, how they talk, and how to gain their trust.

Can we Be Honest for a Second? If I asked you, “Would you let a 35-year-old man sit alone in your daughter’s room with the door closed?” You’d say absolutely not.

But when a child has a phone or tablet with no boundaries, that’s exactly what’s happening... the door is just digital. We think we’re giving them privacy. But when there are no limits or safeguards, what we’re really giving them is access. Access to strangers, to content and to danger.

I HAVE RECIPETS!!!

This isn’t about scaring you. It’s about awareness.

If that can happen inside billion-dollar companies with “safety policies,” it can happen anywhere.

At Project Mona’s House, we help survivors of human trafficking and exploitation rebuild their lives. And do you know how many of their stories started?

With a message.

A friend request.

A “Hey beautiful.”

A “you’re so mature for your age.”

That’s grooming language... and it works... especially when no one’s paying attention.

Let's set the record straight... A Phone Is a Privilege... Not a Right

Let’s be real. A phone or tablet is not a necessity. It’s a privilege. It’s a big responsibility and a potential risk if it’s not handled correctly.

You want to stay connected to your child? Good.

You can do that safely. There are settings that allow your child’s phone to call and text only you. No TikTok. No Snapchat. No random DMs. Just safety.

Connection shouldn’t come at the cost of protection.

A Few Practical Steps You Can Take Today

If your child has an iPhone:

Go to Settings → Screen Time and set a passcode that only you know.
Under Content & Privacy Restrictions, block adult websites, downloads, and unapproved apps.
Use Downtime to lock the phone during school or bedtime.
Add them to Family Sharing so you must approve new apps.

If your child has an Android:

Download Google Family Link and link their device to yours.
Approve or block apps, set screen-time limits, and monitor location.
Disable in-game chat and social apps you don’t recognize.

For everyone:

Keep phones and tablets out of bedrooms overnight.
Talk openly about grooming, sextortion, and manipulation.
Remind your kids: anyone flirting with a minor or asking for pictures is not “nice.” They’re a predator.

Family Phone & Tablet Contracts

We created two simple contracts to make this easier one for teens with phones, one for

They outline expectations, responsibilities, and consequences. It’s not about punishment, it’s about structure, accountability, and keeping your child safe in a world that moves too fast.

You probably know your child better than anyone, but even the best kids can be pressured, manipulated, or tricked. No parent ever thinks, “My child will be a target. ”But every parent can take steps so they’re not.

Check their phones. Ask questions. Set boundaries.

REMEMBER THIS.... Privacy doesn’t protect a child parents do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!