Digital Safety for Youth Volunteers
Keep online communication with minors safe, transparent, and appropriate.
For: Volunteers and staff who work with minors
What you’ll learn
- Apply safe, transparent rules for texting, DMs, and social media with minors
- Keep digital contact with minors visible — never one-on-one and private
- Use organization accounts and channels instead of personal ones
- Protect minors’ privacy and images online, with proper photo consent
- Recognize the warning signs of online grooming and report concerns
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Why digital safety is its own skill
5 min
- 2
The golden rule: open and transparent
6 min
- 3
Organization accounts vs. your personal phone
5 min
- 4
Social-media boundaries
5 min
- 5
Photos, video & consent
4 min
- 6
Recognizing online grooming
5 min
- 7
When something feels off: report it
4 min
Sources & further reading
- U.S. Center for SafeSport — Communicate Safely with Minor Athletes (Electronic Communications Policy / MAAPP)
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) — Online Enticement & CyberTipline Data
- Darkness to Light — Child Sexual Abuse Research & Statistics; Stewards of Children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NetSmartz) — NetSmartz online-safety education resources
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.