Public concern about online safety for children has intensified in recent weeks following the disappearance and death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee of Fishers, Indiana. Police have said Buzbee met a man online shortly before she vanished, and a suspect was later arrested in connection with the case. The situation has prompted many parents to question how quickly online relationships can become dangerous.
Online exploitation is not rare, according to national research. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that about 1 in 6 young people experienced online sexual abuse before age 18, and 5.4% reported being groomed online by adults, with the highest vulnerability between ages 13 and 17.
Angie Morris, Nursing Manager at the Community Hospital Anderson Sexual Assault Trauma Center with Community Health Network, says families can take meaningful steps to protect children by understanding how grooming works and maintaining open communication.
“Our team here works as forensic nurses,” Morris said. “So, we see patients of all ages across the lifespan who’ve been impacted by sexual assault or sexual abuse.”
Morris explained that her team provides medical care, collects evidence when possible, and works with law enforcement and the Department of Child Services (DCS), while also focusing on the long-term safety and health of victims. She said referrals for additional treatment, counseling and community support are often part of the care process.
“Our role is really just to make sure that this child or the victim is safe and healthy,” she said.
How grooming works
Grooming is the “deliberate act” of building trust with a child, teen or at-risk adult for the purpose of sexual exploitation, according to RAINN, a national anti-sexual violence organization.
Morris emphasized that grooming is often difficult for children to recognize because it rarely begins with obvious threats. Instead, predators often present themselves as supportive or caring figures, targeting children who may feel isolated, bullied, or vulnerable. The gradual nature of grooming can make it hard for adults to see what is happening until boundaries have already shifted.
“Grooming looks like kindness, and that’s why it works,” Morris said. “It’s very slow. It’s very strategic.”
She said predators may test boundaries slowly by introducing inappropriate jokes or messages and then minimizing the behavior if challenged. Over time, they may create secrecy and dependency, making the child feel that the relationship must be hidden from trusted adults.
“They want to be the only person and that that kid really feels like they can rely on,” Morris said.
Parents should pay attention to behavioral and emotional changes that may signal a child being manipulated. Morris said warning signs can include mood swings, secrecy, sudden defensiveness about online activity, dropping old friendships, or forming intense attachments to someone they have never met.
“Anytime you have a kid that has like emotional or behavioral changes … that’s definitely going to be concerning,” she said.
Morris also urged parents to understand that predators are not limited to one type of platform. Groomers often use whatever spaces young people are already active in, including social media, gaming chats and even apps that may seem harmless.
“They use it all,” Morris said.
National reporting reflects the scale of the issue. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has received hundreds of thousands of reports involving online enticement and exploitation in recent years, underscoring how widespread these dangers have become.
Tips for parentsMorris encouraged parents to approach online safety conversations without fear-based lectures, especially with younger children. Instead, she said families should normalize discussions about online relationships and boundaries so children feel safe coming forward if something feels wrong.
“This isn’t about a parent not trusting the child,” Morris said. “Of course, we trust our children, but we just don’t trust other people with our children.”
One practical boundary she suggested is keeping devices in shared spaces at home, which reduces opportunities for secretive conversations and increases natural supervision. She also encouraged parents to learn how apps and games work by letting children explain them.
“Sit down with them, let them show you how the apps work…be curious about it,” Morris said.
If a parent suspects their child may be a victim, Morris said the most important first step is staying calm and reassuring the child they are not at fault. Panic or anger can shut down communication and make it harder to assess immediate safety concerns.
“First and foremost, stay calm,” Morris said. “You are not in trouble for the actions of someone else.”
She also cautioned families not to delete messages or reset devices, as those records may later become evidence. Instead, parents should preserve information through screenshots and report concerns to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“Don’t try to be an internet sleuth,” Morris said. “These people are so skilled.”
Morris added that emotional support is essential, as children may feel devastated realizing someone they trusted was manipulating them. Counseling or another trusted adult outside the parent-child relationship can help victims process what happened.
“This might feel to this child like their whole world is crashing in on them,” she said.
For parents feeling anxious amid disturbing headlines, Morris said remaining a steady and supportive presence can make the biggest difference, not only for their own children but for other young people who may not have trusted adults at home.
“We have to remain a safe person for our kid,” Morris said.
She urged families to keep communication open, reinforce that safe adults do not ask children to keep secrets and remind children they can always ask for help.
“Safe adults are not going to have kids keeping secrets,” Morris said. “And flattery and pressure is not kindness.”
Parents who believe their child may be experiencing online grooming or exploitation are encouraged to report concerns as soon as possible. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) operates a 24/7 CyberTipline for reporting suspected child sexual exploitation and provides resources for families navigating these situations. Reports can be made online at: report.cybertip.org/
Please add this resource for the National Sexual Assault Hotline: https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/. Phone: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Text HOPE to 64673.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
