Top 5 Online Threats Christian Parents Aren’t Prepared For

It’s Worse Than You Think (But You’re Not Alone)

You wouldn’t leave your front door open overnight - so why leave your child’s digital world unguarded? A lot of parents feel that this part of the world is moving too fast to keep up with. And, in certain ways, you would be right. But, we can never be comfortable and unengaged.
Online threats are now organized, AI-powered, and spiritually corrosive. But instead of being helpless with fear, you can systematically become aware, engaged, and vigilant. So, eyes open, hearts strengthened. Here are 5 threats most Christian parents still aren’t prepared for - yet.

Threat #1: Grooming 2.0 - The Rise of Organized Predator Networks (e.g., 764)

Beyond individual predators (of which there are many), families now face nihilistic extremist networks - like the “764” organization. The FBI has recently devoted resources to investigating and pursuing this group. They systematically groom, manipulate, and terrorize children online.

  • The FBI has investigations in all 55 of its field offices in the U.S. 764 is recognized as one of the top digital threats to children, targeting ages 9 to 17

  • The organization operates on platforms like Discord, Roblox, Instagram, and X, using grooming to coerce children into sharing sexual images, then transitioning to making them do self harm and violence, and sharing those images. They pretend to be a friend, but quickly move to really evil things.

  • This extremist group is openly satanic, and promotes self harm, animal cruelty, bomb threats, “swatting”, and even murder - all under a perverse ideological banner that prized cruelty as status within it’s network.

Victims as young as 9 have been blackmailed into self-harm, violence, or public bomb threats - all recorded and shared across the groups channels. 764 makes it’s targets do things like mutilation branding (“cut signs”), harm family pets, and live stream hunting others.

What Parents Need to Know: This isn’t personal grooming. It is systematic, cult and organized grooming fueled by openly satanic proclamations, extremist ideology, and psychological warfare. Regular filters do not stop this network. This group is decentralized, recruiting others into their sick and evil practices. They target younger kids, and manipulate them from mainstream platforms in order to lure and harm.
Your children WILL NOT inherently know about this threat unless they learn about it from you.

What You Can Do:

  • Teach your kids what grooming looks like - quick friendships, excessive flattery, secrets, bad behavior, emotional manipulation.

  • Monitor digital signals - sudden self harm talk, secret apps, extreme behavior (threats or violence), odd pet injuries, and others.

  • Lead with truth - explain that some groups and people literally aim to destroy children and must be known about and reported immediately.

  • Use protective tools (Bark Technologies) and maintain open dialogue, not just tech locks. Family trust is your best defense.

  • Call evil what it is. Evil. Show your children the truth of what our faith proclaims, against things like this.

Threat #2: The rise of “Soft Porn” & Algorithmic Seduction

Over sexualized images, dances, and content are regular parts of TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and others provide and promote this content without being flagged as explicit. Their goal is to get people to watch content, and this content easily attracts views, including small eyes… Dances are fun, especially when the dances and music of the day is on display/ The normalization of sensual moves, explicit lyrics, and lack of clothes is being pushed you younger kiddos like yours. The algorithm isn’t neutral - it learns what your child stops and stares at, and gives more of the same.

What Parents Can Do:

  • Limit all screen time and devises (we have a theme here folks) and talk about your kids true identity and value.

  • Replace this kind of entertainment with Faith centered creators and enact shared content time. Discernment must be learned, it does not just happen.

  • Watch things WITH your kids, and ask real questions.

  • Don’t avoid this or hope it won’t happen.

Threat #3: Cultural Indoctrination Disguised as Entertainment

Cartoons today just aren’t the cartoons many of us grew up with. Kids’ shows have a lot of subtle messaging in them. The are full of anti-parent, anti-masculine, and hyper-identity confusing messages and imagery. Shows, channels, networks, and brands have taken this stance. They push gender ideology, contain occult symbolism, and portray serious worldview drift.
Let’s be really clear. These are not just kids shows or cartoons. These promote and push this worldview as a trojan horse into your kids mind and heart. This is warfare.

What Parents Can Do:

  • Be the parent. Live your faith WITH your kids. Remember mom and dad: what we allow, we approve…

  • Filter content with tools like VidAngel or Angel Studios.

  • Talk through situations that are presented by contrasting them using The Bible. Ask questions, show them what the end result of these ideologies will bring. Dialogue is powerful, your kids look to you for answers.

Threat #4: AI Deception and Deepfake Exploitation

Teens and tweens are very much targets. Deepfake blackmail scams, voice cloning, and extortion are on the rise and particularly nefarious. AI bots are being used by sick and evil individuals to impersonate your kids friends, create manipulating fake photos, and threatening the cascading effects of shame spirals. Too many moms and dads just like you are unaware of the capabilities of artificial intelligence platforms. AI can now copy and fake voices or create nudity from normal photos.

What Parents Can Do:

  • Learn about, and then teach your children about deepfake awareness

  • Lock down what IS shared. Even “innocent” pictures can, and are, copied and used for nefarious and sexual purposes. It is not just location protection any more.

  • Encourage healthy practices of suspicion and discernment. Talk about code words, and phrase or word to check if the person they are talking to is ACTUALLY the person. Do this in private, without devises present. Revisit this and renew these words or phrases regularly.

  • Talk to other parents your kids are friends with and those you go to church with.

Threat #5: Addiction By Design (and Spiritual Drift)

Social Media platforms are designed to hijack and keep your child’s attention and give them dopamine hits. Oh, the same can be said for you as well. This is addictive behavior 101, and it is constant. It pushes more and more screen time, attention, and scrolling for “what’s next” The ever increasing time devoted to these leads to spiritual numbness, family disconnection, and passive parenting. The real cost beyond time that is lost forever, is a loss of formation. Children (humans) are not made to constantly engage with a screen. We are designed to, well, human. To read, learn, cook, eat, work, grow, explore, adventure, love , live, and worship. The addiction we are talking about steals the humanity from us, and our children. We are created in God’s Image, and therefore, we have a responsibility for HOW we live.

What Parents Can Do:

  • Limit screen time. Have entire days where it simply is not allowed.

  • Encourage and practice family worship, reading, being outside, cooking, going on adventures, etc.

  • Use tech as a tool, and not as default entertainment. I believe in understanding of its place, but not putting its use on a pedestal. Teach discernment instead of distraction and immersion.

The Call To Lead

Many parents today aren’t malicious—they’re just spiritually numb, distracted, and overwhelmed by the pace of life. But make no mistake: the culture isn’t advancing because it’s stronger—it’s advancing because most families are asleep at the wheel. You’re not just protecting your child’s screen time or devices—you’re shaping their soul. This battle isn’t just digital. It’s discipleship.

And your leadership has never mattered more.

We are here to help. If you haven’t yet, please sign up for our newsletter and get your copy of the Family Crisis Survival Guide. The sign up and link are below.

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