SOSA Faqs

undercover underage faqs

Can I launch a teen decoy online?

While we genuinely appreciate your passion for this cause, do not attempt to do this work unless you're doing so in direct collaboration with law enforcement. Vigilantism is dangerous and can actually impede justice by tying things up for investigators, so it's important not to take matters into your own hands.

When is season 3 of Undercover Underage coming out?

Unfortunately, Undercover Underage has not been renewed for a third season.

Why don't you call ACMs "pedophiles"?

Pedophilia is a clinical diagnosis, and so the SOSA team is not equipped to apply that label. What we are equipped to do is describe what we are directly witnessing — that an adult has contacted a minor. That is why we use the term "ACM," which stands for "adult contacting a minor."

Will you come to my state?

Perhaps! We need two things in order to do a decoy sprint in a new city — the cooperation and invitation from local law enforcement, and the funding to be able to do it. If you’re interested in SOSA doing a decoy sprint in your city, contact your local ICAC team and tell them about us. If they’re interested, they can reach out to info@sosatogether.org and we will chat with them further.

Have you ever encountered a woman ACM?

We have not, and ICAC teams confirm they are exceedingly rare. When women abuse kids, it’s almost always a kid they know in real life (like their student, for example).

How is what you're doing not entrapment?

One of the important reasons we work directly on decoy sprints with law enforcement is that we ensure never to get anywhere close to entrapment. We follow very strict guidelines from both law enforcement and the local district attorney — such as immediately disclosing that our decoy is a minor, never pressuring an ACM to meet, and always giving an ACM multiple chances to not commit a crime.

why don’t you show acms’ faces?

There are a couple of different reasons for this. First, we cannot show someone’s identity until they have been convicted of their crimes — everyone has the right to a trial. Second, the friends and family members of ACMs are victims in this situation too, and they deserve privacy as they process what has happened. Thirdly, arrest information and sex offender registry information is already available online to anyone who looks for it.

Do you believe ACMs can really change?

Our approach to ACMs is to genuinely hope they can be rehabilitated and safely re-enter society. Unfortunately, our current systems only provide punitive outcomes for offenders, and don't offer them paths for seeking help before they have committed a crime. We hope to see this change so kids and teens are protected before something ever happens to them. There is hope that someone can go through this situation, serve their time, learn a lesson, and choose to no longer harm children in the future.

What about boy decoys?

Boys absolutely experience abuse. In fact, a child of any gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, etc. can experience online sex abuse. We have used boy decoys before — you just haven’t seen them on the show.

faqs from families

What should I do if my child is experiencing online sex abuse?

If you suspect your child is being abused online, immediately alert your local law enforcement team so they can help. Do not block the perpetrator on any social media accounts or delete any messages that have been exchanged — having access to this information is critical as your law enforcement team begins the investigation.

You can also report online sex abuse to NCMEC's CyberTipline.

How do I help my kid if they've already experienced online abuse?

If your child has experienced online abuse, make sure to connect them with professional mental health support as they navigate healing from what they've been through.

The National Sexual Assault Hotline can point you toward next steps. If you or your child is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can contact the Crisis Support Text Line to speak with a trained counselor. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Beyond these practical resources, make sure you clearly tell your child that what they've experienced was not their fault and that you are there to support them through the journey ahead. Avoid yelling, overreacting, blaming them, or grounding them from their devices or otherwise delivering a "punishment" for what they've been through.

How can I prevent my child from experiencing online sex abuse?

Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to prevent online harm. If your child has access to the internet, there is a chance that they could encounter someone who wants to hurt them. That being said, there are certainly steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Build a strong relationship. One of the most important things you can do to protect your kid is to form a powerful bond with them. Have candid, age-appropriate, regular conversations about everything from the great parts of the internet to some of the tough things they could encounter. If you lay this foundation, they're more likely to come to you if something's wrong.

Discuss red flags. Grooming can be very subtle — especially at first. Talk through concrete examples of grooming with your child so they're able to identify when someone they're talking to may be trying to manipulate them. This can range from paying them compliments to asking them to keep secrets to making them follow rules about their interactions.

Get familiar with technology. The internet is always changing, so it's not possible for you to keep up with every single game, trend, or slang term that's out there. But you can spend time exploring the platforms your kid or teen likes best so that you learn how they work.

Set healthy boundaries. Every kid is different, so a tech use rule that works for your family may not work for your kid's BFF. Think through — and clearly communicate — your expectations around which apps and sites your child can use,how much screen time will help them feel their best, and when they should have downtime from their devices. You can use built-in platform or device parental controls to help with this.

Make a plan. If your kid or teen does ever encounter harm online, the stressful situation can make it difficult for them to know exactly how to react. Take some of that decision-making out of the equation by talking through a plan of action in advance.  Make sure to remind them that they should follow the plan even if someone threatens them online — that's a common tactic perpetrators use to exert power over their victims.

What is the worst platform for online predation?

There is truly no one "worst platform," as frustrating as that may be to hear. Generally speaking, any app or social media platform that does not have strong online safety guidelines and parental control options is going to have a higher chance for harm. That being said, our team has encountered predation on everything from children's coloring apps to online dating profiles. Anywhere there is the ability to communicate online, there is the potential for an ACM to harm a child.

What's the best way to stop online predators?

Addressing online predation is going to take a multi-pronged approach. SOSA tackles this from multiple angles. We prevent harm by educating communities and advocating for effective legislation, intervene in active abuse by working with law enforcement, and support survivors by connecting them with essential resources. Awareness is a key part of stopping online perpetrators — make sure to have conversations with people around you, especially those who are parents or caregivers.