In the digital age, "stranger danger" is a bit of a misnomer. Most kids don't think someone they’ve been gaming with for three months is a stranger. They’re a "mutual." They’re part of the "squad."

Digital stranger danger is the risk that an unknown person (or an automated bot) will use digital platforms to exploit, manipulate, or harm a child. This ranges from financial exploitation (the classic "give me your password for free Robux" scam) to grooming (building an emotional bond to eventually ask for inappropriate photos or a physical meeting) and the emerging threat of AI deepfakes.

Learn more about the psychology of online grooming

If you’ve heard your kid call something "Ohio" lately, they mean it’s weird, cringe, or just plain wrong. Well, the current state of online safety is pretty "Ohio."

The reason we have to care more now than we did five years ago is the persistence of the connection. Our kids are reachable 24/7. In the old days, if a stranger was at the park, you left the park. Now, the stranger is in your kid’s pocket, in their bedroom, and in their headset while they’re supposedly "just playing Minecraft."

Additionally, the rise of Generative AI means that "strangers" can now sound exactly like a kid’s friend or even a celebrity. Voice cloning and deepfake technology are being used to trick kids into giving up personal info or even participating in "sextortion" scams.

We’re past the point of just worrying about text chats. We now have to worry about what our kids see and hear.

Scammers can take a 30-second clip of a person’s voice from a YouTube video or Instagram Reel and use AI to make it say whatever they want. They might call a kid on Discord sounding like a popular gamer, asking for account access.

This is the heavy stuff. AI can now create realistic, non-consensual images. This is being used for bullying in schools and for extortion by online predators. It’s not just "strangers" doing this; sometimes it's other kids, but the "danger" is the same.

Ask our chatbot about how to protect your child's photos from AI

Not all apps are created equal. Here’s the breakdown of where "tricky people" tend to hang out:

With over 70 million daily users, Roblox is the biggest playground on earth. It’s also where many kids first encounter "tricky people." The risk isn't the games themselves—it’s the unfiltered chat and the "trading" culture. If someone is offering a "Neon Unicorn" for "free," there is always a catch.

Think of Discord as the "dark alley" of the internet if not managed. It’s where gamers go to talk, but it’s also where many private, unmoderated servers live. Predators often try to move kids from a moderated platform (like Roblox) to an unmoderated one (like Discord).

The "disappearing" nature of Snapchat messages gives kids a false sense of security. It also makes it the #1 platform for grooming and sextortion because the "evidence" goes away—or so they think.

While the hype has died down, Among Us still has a "Quick Chat" vs. "Free Chat" issue. Free chat is where the trouble starts.

At this age, kids shouldn't be "meeting" anyone online. Stick to apps with no chat or heavily canned chat (like PBS Kids or ABCya). If they play Minecraft, keep them on a private family server.

This is the critical window. Instead of "stranger," use the term "Tricky Person." A tricky person is someone who asks a kid to keep a secret, asks for help (adults shouldn't ask kids for help online), or makes them feel "uh-oh" in their stomach.

Teens are going to be on Instagram and TikTok. The focus here shifts to privacy settings and digital footprint. They need to know that "mutuals" aren't necessarily friends.

You don't need to read every single text your kid sends (unless you want to lose your mind), but you should watch for these behavioral red flags:

Check out our guide on monitoring apps like Bark and Aura

Don't sit them down for a "The Talk" PowerPoint. Bring it up while you're in the car or playing a game together.

Try these conversation starters:

The "No-Trouble" Rule is vital. If a kid thinks they’ll lose their phone for talking to a stranger, they will never tell you when a stranger starts talking to them.

Digital stranger danger isn't about fear; it's about agency. We want our kids to be the "admins" of their own digital lives. They should know how to block, how to report, and how to spot a "tricky person" from a mile away.

The internet is a massive, amazing, chaotic city. You wouldn't drop your 10-year-old in the middle of Times Square alone, but you would teach them how to navigate it as they get older. Digital safety is the same thing.

Take the Screenwise Digital Habits Survey Ask our chatbot for a custom safety checklist for your child's age