Sexting Education Program Aims To Keep Chester Kids Digitally Safe

CHESTER, NJ — Online sexual extortion of minors is on the rise as technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, and the Chester Police Department wants to remind parents of the online safety precautions they and their children should take to stay safe.

Chester Police Detective Lieutenant Chris Cavanagh has partnered with the Chester School District to present a parent evening titled "Keeping your child safe from Child Exploitation – it all starts with the device" on Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m., at the Black River Middle School.

The use of sexually explicit material by children of all ages is increasing, according to law enforcement agencies across the country. This material includes "sexting" and sending or soliciting sexually illicit photographs.

Cavanaugh will discuss current national, state, and county trends in Sexting and Child Exploitation. Parents will also learn how their child may be concealing conversations from them within popular and widely used apps, as well as how to keep their child safe on their device.

"Unfortunately, these topics are not just 'another town’s issue,' but a Chester and Morris County problem," the middle school said. "Detective Lieutenant Cavanagh currently is detached to the New Jersey State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Child Taskforce (ICAC) and has extensive training and field experience within the field of Child Exploitation. He has a lot of insight that parents won’t want to miss."

Officials from the school have asked that no children be brought to this event because the topics to be covered are of an adult nature and are not intended for children.

Police officers throughout Morris County want to remind parents to caution their children about what they post and share on social media and through technology, because social media and technology record everything, including photos and messages that a child may believe are private.

Data shared electronically can be accessed and potentially disseminated to others even after it has been deleted. Furthermore, people communicating with children over the internet may misrepresent their true age, gender, or identity.