Kids are spending, clicking, and being targeted online more than ever. From influencer advertising, manipulative persuasive design, video game loot boxes, and even illegal financial extortion – children face a digital minefield designed to capture their money and their trust.
Children and Screens held the #AskTheExperts webinar “Hidden Costs: Protecting Kids from Online Financial Exploitation” on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Leading experts and government watchdogs shared actionable insights on:
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- How to spot hidden advertising techniques, including via influencer content
- Children’s exposure and susceptibility to manipulative tactics
- Strategies to protect against common scams and sextortion attempts targeting children
- Recognizing and managing hidden costs in video gaming
This webinar provided parents, caregivers, and educators with tools to guide youth through today’s complex digital economy and help them build resilience against online financial exploitation.
Resources Mentioned During the Webinar
- Protecting Kids Online (Website)
- Youville (Website)
- Consumer Alerts (Website)
- Parenting Kids in the Age of Screens (Website)
- National Association for Media Literacy Education (Website)
- Media Smarts (Website)
- Common Sense Media (Website)
- Media Literacy Now (Website)
- A Digital Pandemic: Uncovering the Role of ‘Yahoo Boys’ in the Surge of Social Media-Enabled Financial Sextortion Targeting Minors (Report)
- No Escape Room (Website)
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (Website)
- Electronic Tip Form (Website)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Website)
- Take It Down (Website)
A full recording and transcript for this webinar will be made available soon.
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