The Internet Safety Talk Every Parent Needs to Hear

In this powerful episode of Cake for Dinner, Greg Schiller joins the podcast for an urgent and eye-opening conversation every parent needs to hear.

Greg is a former assistant U.S. attorney who spent 20 years prosecuting online predators, internet crimes, and crimes against children. He has testified before Congress on online exploitation and now serves as the CEO of Child Rescue Coalition, an organization helping law enforcement identify and stop predators around the world.

This conversation dives into what parents are getting wrong when it comes to kids and technology, why smartphones are not just “phones,” how predators target children online, and why communication at home is the most important safety tool parents have.

Greg breaks down the realities of online exploitation, the dangers hidden inside apps, games, and social platforms, and the simple non-negotiables parents can put in place to better protect their children. From Snapchat and Instagram to hidden apps, screen monitoring, privacy myths, and the importance of starting conversations early, this episode is a must-listen for moms, dads, and anyone raising kids in the digital age.

This is not about fear. It is about awareness, communication, and giving parents the tools to protect their children before something happens.

Learn more about Keesha: https://keeshascott.com/
Read More About Gregs Work: https://childrescuecoalition.org/  

00:00 — Introduction
00:48 — What parents are getting wrong about kids and technology
02:27 — Why online predators are everywhere children are
04:49 — If your child has a device, they can access everything
06:02 — Why parents need to talk about sex and online safety earlier
08:38 — The best parental control is communication
10:29 — Why devices should not charge in kids’ bedrooms
13:36 — When should parents give their child a phone?
14:52 — “Pause before you post” and teaching kids digital awareness
16:17 — How predators pretend to be someone they are not
17:52 — The reality of online offenders and how they target kids
21:44 — Why parents need better language to explain online danger
23:50 — The shocking number of online child exploitation reports
26:50 — How Child Rescue Coalition helps law enforcement catch predators
28:58 — How Greg’s work affects him as a father
33:29 — Three non-negotiables for kids and devices
34:56 — Why kids should never communicate with strangers online
35:28 — The truth about Snapchat and disappearing messages
38:54 — Why kids feel safe online when they are not
39:11 — Rapid fire: Snapchat, Instagram, privacy, apps, and monitoring
43:55 — The one sentence every kid should hear before getting a phone
44:49 — Greg’s biggest takeaway for parents
46:46 — Where to learn more about Child Rescue Coalition