Made possible by
This work in Kensington was made possible by the generous support of the World Childhood Foundation.
Is there any way to create online safety for kids that actually makes a long-term difference in their digital habits? Influenced, a curriculum focused on staying safer online, is proving that kids can be safer when they’re given the right tools.
The need for a curriculum like this has never been more urgent.
89% of online exploitation cases begin in chat rooms.
The reality
The challenges for kids in Kensington
Influenced has been taught in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia in partnership with The Lighthouse, a community center and the region’s oldest nonprofit. Kids in Kensington are accustomed to violence:
These numbers are just a snapshot of the challenges kids in Kensington face. Other challenges include food insecurity, challenges accessing education, and abusive homes — all factors that make them uniquely vulnerable to digital exploitation.
How can we support kids like these to beat the overwhelming odds of grooming, digital predation, and exploitation in order to protect themselves online?
The change
The Influenced curriculum has delivered measurable change in digital safety for kids across Kensington
Influenced, a multi-hour engaging workshop presented by certified trainers, has been delivered to over 800 vulnerable youth in Kensington through a partnership between The Lighthouse and anti-trafficking organization The Exodus Road.
That expert, relationship-focused online safety training works.
How is Influenced increasing online safety for kids?
Here are just a few of the changes that The Lighthouse and The Exodus Road have been able to measure through pre- and post-training surveys of the kids:
"Don't forget about it. It's like brushing your teeth — you have to stay on top of it every day. There are people out there who will harm you. You have to protect yourself and spread awareness."
A student who participated in an Influenced workshop
How is Influenced increasing caregivers’ capacity to protect kids online?
To create a truly interconnected ecosystem where both adults and the kids in their lives can be mutual participants in a safer world, adults have to be skilled up in navigating the digital world children already live in. Influenced equips them to do exactly that. Here’s how it’s changing adults who take the training intended for educators, caregivers, and community leaders:
"This experience opened my eyes to different pathways to sexual extortion. It's in everything — apps, web browsers. I was naive to some things. It definitely opened my eyes toward having more in-depth conversations with my teen."
A parent who participated in an Influenced workshop
Take the next step
How can I help my child stay safe online?
The success of the Influenced curriculum in Kensington shows that even in the most high-risk environments, this digital training can transform the way both adults and kids respond to online dangers. You can take the training online at any time through the Influenced Parent Academy, and the teen in your life can use the Teen Academy.
This allows you to be a part of the response to the dangers increasingly driven by screens and smartphones. In one school where Influenced was recently presented, 10% of youth had already experienced some form of exploitation. Part of what sets Influenced apart is that it is not a training that deals only in hypotheticals. Influenced is for when, not just if, something goes wrong. It acknowledges the needs of real parents and teens without shame.
Have you taken the Influenced training and had your own experience with the way it can impact a life? We’d love to hear from you! Email influenced@theexodusroad.com to share your story.
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