State Police Suggest Parents and Children Use ‘New Rules’ for Staying Safe Online

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State Police officials say online predators are increasingly targeting children, with reports of sextortion already exceeding last year’s total.

“Children as young as seven are being targeted online, and we’re seeing a sharp increase in sextortion cases involving minors,” said Sgt. Corwin Battle, commander of the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. “Last year in Arkansas, there were 169 sextortion reports. Already in 2025, Arkansas has received 170 sextortion reports — exceeding last year’s total, with half the year still ahead. The threat is real, but it’s different from what many of us grew up worrying about.”

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The ICAC Task Force is urging parents, caregivers and community members to strengthen their child safety strategies. The warning comes during Safer Internet Month and follows Operation Safe Online Summer (SOS), a coordinated nationwide initiative conducted in April 2025. The operation was led by ICAC Task Forces in partnership with federal agencies to combat online child exploitation.

Despite passage of the REPORT Act, the number of cyber tip reports remains high, with a concerning increase in certain types of online exploitation. Nationwide, there are more than 19,000 reports of sextortion involving minors each year. In comparison, there are typically about 350 to 400 child abduction cases by non-family members and roughly 1,000 confirmed child sex trafficking cases annually.

Officials say Snapchat and Instagram are the most common platforms where exploitation occurs. The growing use of end-to-end encryption on major tech platforms has made it more difficult to detect harmful content, increasing the importance of vigilance among parents and young people.

To assist families, the Arkansas ICAC Task Force released updated digital safety guidelines:

• Old Rule: Don’t talk to strangers in public.
  New Rule: Don’t talk to strangers online—even if they seem friendly or say things you like.

• Old Rule: Never get into a car with someone you don’t know.
  New Rule: Never click on links or accept friend requests from people you don’t really know.

• Old Rule: If something feels wrong, find a trusted adult right away.
  New Rule: If something feels wrong online, tell a trusted adult immediately.

• Old Rule: Don’t share your home address or phone number.
  New Rule: Don’t share personal details like your school, hometown or photos online.

• Old Rule: Don’t take candy from strangers.
  New Rule: Don’t accept gifts, money or promises from people online—no matter how good it sounds.

The Arkansas ICAC Task Force is asking parents, educators and community leaders to remain alert and involved to help protect children both online and off.

Suspicious online activity or potential threats can be reported to local law enforcement or the Arkansas State Fusion Center at (501) 618-8001. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children can also be reached at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

adapted press release