Beyond Politics: Republicans and Democrats Joined Forces to Protect Our Children Online

Parents: Critical Information That Could Save Your Child

In a sea of division, it's a breath of fresh air when leaders put politics aside and come together with bipartisan support for our most precious resource: our youth.

As digital dangers rise, presenting damaging consequences for our children, landmark legislation championed by the Trump Administration provides critical tools for families across America.

"It took just an hour and 40 minutes from initial contact until Gavin's death."

The Silent Crisis of Sextortion

In an era where "not my kid" has become a dangerous parental fantasy, a silent crisis is worsening across America: sextortion–the exploitation of intimate images that devastates young lives and, in worst cases, leads to suicide. With the passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act, families now have powerful new tools to fight back.

The Growing Threat of Sextortion

Sextortion–obtaining intimate images then using them to extort money, additional content, or other favors–has become one of the fastest-growing forms of online exploitation targeting minors in America.

The statistics are alarming:

• From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI recorded over 13,000 reports involving 12,600 victims–primarily boys–with at least 20 suicides during that period.

• In just six months (October 2022 to March 2023), the FBI observed at least a 20% increase in financially motivated sextortion incidents compared to the previous year.

What makes sextortion particularly devastating is how quickly it happens. As FBI Supervisory Special Agent Mark Civiletto explains, unlike other online scams that require building rapport over time, "Sextortion can be done in minutes." Criminal networks have zeroed in on exploiting teenage shame and embarrassment for quick financial gain.

"Sextortion can be done in minutes." —FBI Supervisory Special Agent Mark Civiletto

How Sextortion Works

Predators pose as peers (usually attractive teenage girls) on social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and through gaming platforms. They establish rapid connections, often complimenting the victim and suggesting romantic interest. Once trust is established, they request explicit photos or videos.

After receiving images, predators reveal their true intent, threatening to share the content with the victim's friends, family, or publicly unless demands are met–usually money, gift cards, or additional explicit content.

The most insidious aspect is how it exploits normal teenage behaviors like curiosity, desire for connection, and impulsivity and transforms them into unbearable shame, fear, and isolation.

The Human Toll

The stories behind the statistics are heartbreaking:

• Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old football and basketball star from Michigan, took his life in March 2022 after being targeted by Nigerian men who posed as a teenage girl on Instagram. Believing he was communicating with a female peer who was interested in him, Jordan shared an explicit photo. The scammers immediately began demanding $1,000. When Jordan told them he was considering suicide due to their mistreatment, they responded "good" and told him to "enjoy your miserable life." Hours later, he was gone.

• James Woods, a 17-year-old college-bound track star, received 200 threatening messages in less than 20 hours after sharing an image. His mother, Tamia Woods, described messages ranging from "I own you" to "you need to take your own life."

• Gavin Guffey, son of South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, took his life in July 2022 after being targeted. It took just an hour and 40 minutes from initial contact until Gavin's death. The extortionists later targeted his family members, sending a message saying, "Did I tell you that your son begged for his life?"

This happens to great kids from good families. The common thread is a heavy sense of unshakable shame combined with fear of public humiliation–a burden too heavy for many teens to share with parents, leaving them to face this trauma alone.

The TAKE IT DOWN Act: A Bipartisan Achievement

On April 28, 2025, the House passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act with overwhelming bipartisan support (409-2), following the Senate's unanimous approval in February. The legislation now awaits President Trump's signature to officially become law.

In an era of unprecedented political division, protecting our children from digital exploitation stands as a rare issue where both parties find complete common ground. The nearly unanimous votes demonstrate that when it comes to children's safety, partisan differences disappear.

"Protecting our children from digital exploitation stands as a rare issue where both parties find complete common ground."

The TAKE IT DOWN Act—short for Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act—provides crucial protections:

• Federal Criminal Penalties: Makes publishing non-consensual intimate images a federal crime

• 48-Hour Takedown Requirement: Platforms must remove reported content within 48 hours

• AI-Generated Content Protection: Covers deepfakes and AI-generated explicit images

• FTC Enforcement: Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to enforce compliance

Leadership Across Party Lines

The TAKE IT DOWN Act represents a cornerstone of the Trump Administration's efforts to address the growing mental health crisis among America's youth. First Lady Melania Trump has been particularly passionate about this issue, bringing her voice and platform to advocate for victims.

At a Capitol Hill roundtable, First Lady Trump emphasized, "In today's AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarming. We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy."

"In today's AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarming. We must prioritize robust security measures." —First Lady Melania Trump

Senator Ted Cruz credited her involvement as critical: "The force of your presence, Madam First Lady, is not only going to save children's lives, but will also make this legislation the law of the land."

The strong support from Democratic lawmakers alongside their Republican colleagues demonstrates how protecting our children transcends traditional political boundaries. This legislation succeeded because leaders from both sides recognized the urgent need to safeguard young Americans from digital exploitation.

What Parents Can Do

While the TAKE IT DOWN Act addresses the aftermath of harm, parents must take preventative steps:

1. NO DEVICES IN BEDROOMS
   Experts are unequivocal: smartphones and digital devices should not be allowed in children's bedrooms, especially overnight. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends implementing a "technology curfew" where devices are collected and charged in family areas before bedtime.

2. Have Direct Conversations
   Talk openly with your children about sextortion and online pressure. For teens, acknowledge that attention can be flattering, but acting impulsively can lead to lasting harm.

3. Practice Specific Responses
   Role-play phrases they can use when faced with pressure:

   • "I'm not comfortable with that."

   • "That's not something I do."

   • "I respect myself too much to share that."

4. Educate About Digital Permanence
   Help your child understand that nothing digital is truly temporary or private, despite what apps like Snapchat might suggest. What goes online stays online, often forever.

5. Create a Family Safety Plan
   Establish clear guidelines and create an atmosphere where your child knows they can come to you without shame if they make a mistake. We must teach our children to NOT RESPOND to inappropriate online messages and images, and to instead tell a trusted adult. The faster you know about an issue, the more effectively you can help. Do not delete messages, report them to the proper channels listed below.

A Call to Unity in Protecting Our Children

The TAKE IT DOWN Act demonstrates what Americans can accomplish when we set aside political differences for the greater good. The harmful effects of interactive devices and social media on the developing brains, mental health, and the overall well-being of our youth are too serious to be subject to partisan debate.

Mental health and emotional maturity require us to acknowledge positive actions regardless of which administration champions them. Even if you disagree with the Trump administration on other issues, this legislation deserves recognition and support from all Americans. The ability to see, hear, understand, and acknowledge the good when it exists is a hallmark of true maturity and civic responsibility.

"Mental health and emotional maturity require us to acknowledge positive actions regardless of which administration champions them."

Our children's minds and futures are neither Republican nor Democratic issues–they are American priorities that demand our unified attention and action. The complex relationship between youth development and technology requires thoughtful approaches that transcend political divides.

I encourage parents across all political perspectives to share this information. Talk with your children about the temptations of sharing explicit photos, asking for them, or distributing them. Normalize curiosity and excitement while explaining the dangerous outcomes of depression, self-harm, suicide, and being charged with a crime involving child pornography even when images are shared between peers who are both minors.

This single mindset change–from "not my kid" to "this could affect my child too"–can make all the difference in whether your child is prepared for pressure and will talk to you about this uncomfortable side of their digital world.

"This single mindset change–from 'not my kid' to 'this could affect my child too'–can make all the difference."

By combining landmark legislation, parental vigilance, and compassionate support for victims, we can begin to turn the tide against this devastating exploitation of our youth. Protecting our children is a value we all share, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act represents what's possible when we unite behind that common purpose.

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For additional resources and support:

• To report sextortion visit: The Cyber Tip Line

• Call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion

• If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.

About the Author
Dr. Carrie Mackensen brings 25 years of clinical expertise as a child psychologist and real-world experience as a mom. With a Ph.D. in Individual, Family, and Child Psychology, she combines evidence-based strategies with practical insights that parents can actually implement.

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