Really, anyone with a smartphone in their hand can benefit from the Influenced training. TER recommends the parent workshop for caregivers of children who engage at any level with online content, including grandparents, foster-parents, educators, coaches, youth workers, pastors, etc. TER recommends the teen training for teens aged 8-12th grade. However, greater discernment should be used when deciding if subject matter is appropriate for children under the age of 13.

If you are a teenager, this training can really help you evaluate if the way you currently interact with technology is serving you best, or if it’s actually not serving you all that well. It offers a chance for you to learn more about how your overall mental health can be impacted by the time you spend online and provides insight into potential dangers that exist in that space. The course offers some practical ways to ‘Social Better’ by pursuing a healthy relationship with tech and advocating for a kinder and more just digital world. It provides tools to protect yourself and your friends online and gives some tips for having good conversations about all of this with the adults in your life. Teens who take this course will learn to take control of their online space, rather than allowing it to control them.

If you are a parent or caregiver, this training is a chance to better understand how your teenager relates to technology and why it’s such an important part of their world. You’ll gain a better picture of current technology risks and how to limit and mitigate these risks on behalf of the kids you care about. If a child is being targeted for exploitation or involved in cyberbullying, sextortion, or predation, you’ll be equipped to recognize the signs, step in, and respond appropriately – offering compassion and seeking professional help as needed. Lastly, we’ll give you access to some helpful tools that can lead to better conversations, compromise, and safety for families around their technology use, prompting a pathway to greater health and mutual understanding.

Yes. The Influenced program speaks in moderate depth about the dangers of cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, online predation, pornography, addiction, and exploitation. It briefly mentions self-harm, suicidal ideation and human trafficking. If these topics are particularly triggering to you or to a child in your care, The Exodus Road recommends not participating in the training.

We’re glad you asked! The are several ways Influenced can come to a venue near you. The Exodus Road offers live, in-person workshops that are between 45-90 minutes long that are appropriate for corporate lunch and learns, faith communities, youth groups, continuing education, in-services, etc…

TER can also provide an interactive webinar for your organization if an online format works best.

An entity may choose to offer both the parent and teen version of the curriculum simultaneously in separate spaces, or may choose to offer only one or the other, depending on interest.

Pricing for live workshops and webinars is dependent upon format, location, audience, and group size. Discounted rates are available for educational institutions and public service organizations, particularly those who serve at-risk or vulnerable communities. Please contact sarahray@theexodusroad.com to inquire about bringing Influenced to your community.

The Influenced school program is in alignment with most school’s state wellness standards. It is available for institutional license as a 5-part video series; each video comprises 45 minutes of engaging content, including video, discussion, and activity time. The series is complemented with a course facilitator guide for easy implementation and includes a digital resource guide which can be printed for students to utilize during and after the course. If desired, our Influenced Team is available to further equip educators to promote digital wellness within their student body during teacher in-service or professional development days.

Licensing for unlimited annual use within a single institution includes:

•   digital access to five Influenced videos
•   digital resource guide and activity book for students
•   facilitator guide for instructors
•   content disclosure letter for parents and guardians
•   related reporting recommendations and hotlines

Please contact sarahray@theexodusroad.com to inquire about bringing Influenced to your school or institution.

While this will differ state to state, in Colorado, Influenced equips 8th-12th grade students to:

1. Apply knowledge and skills necessary to make personal decisions that promote healthy relationships both on and offline
2. Utilize knowledge and skills to enhance mental, emotional, and social well-being
3. Apply knowledge and skills that promote healthy, violence-free relationships

The Exodus Road (TER) has been combatting global human trafficking crime for more than a decade. In recent years, a concerning trend has emerged linking online activities to cases of exploitation. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a 323% increase in cases of suspected online child enticement in 2023. The Exodus Road has similarly found that 61% of human trafficking cases they investigated in 2023 either originated or intersected with a social media platform. The fact that United States youth average 8.5 hours of recreational screentime each day makes them vulnerable to a variety of risks, including: anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, sextortion, pornography, predation, and even human trafficking. Knowing this, TER wants parents and teens to recognize both the positive and potentially negative aspects of the digital world. The Influenced program is designed to equip communities to recognize internet dangers, prevent exploitation, and advocate on behalf of those who may be at risk.

If you, or someone you know has been a victim of exploitation or abuse, or you suspect someone you know is in danger, we want to encourage you to immediately seek help. Please begin by talking to a trusted adult, you should never go through this alone. Suspected online abuse or exploitation of minors can be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)’s Cybertipline at 1-800-THE-LOST. You can also report sextortion and other predatory attempts, including human trafficking, to the FBI’s hotline at 1-888-373-7888. And of course, if you are in immediate danger or are the victim of a localized crime or abuse, be sure to report to local law enforcement by calling 911.

If you are experiencing a personal crisis, you can text KIND to 741741 to speak with a live (free) crisis counselor 24/7. You can also seek help from a licensed social worker or therapist, as well as your local Department of Human Services. 

Lastly, if you are tempted to self-harm or have suicidal ideation, please call 988.

The Exodus Road is committed to helping our community become more aware in order to protect themselves and others from exploitation. Our blog addresses relevant topics that can help parents and educators understand both positive and negative aspects of the online space and learn to safeguard their families and students. Our @Influencedorg Instagram account offers news, tips, and encouragement for adults seeking to better understand their teen’s digital world, while our TikTok channel provides content for teens seeking to Social Better.

Every human needs social connection.

Social Better is a movement committed to inspiring teens to be intentional in the ways they are connected, inspiring mindful engagement in both on and offline spaces. In our digital age, the word “social” not only refers to a characteristic of humans – it also is treated as a noun (short for social media) and a verb (participating in social media). Social Better plays on those multi-pronged connotations.

To Social Better is to commit to healthier ways of connecting with other people in all spheres of life – online and off.