Investigative journalist Chris Hansen, best known as the host of "To Catch a Predator", has urged parents to warn their children about online predators and sextortion before granting them access to the internet. Speaking on Sean Hannity's "Hang Out With Sean Hannity" podcast in an episode released on Tuesday, Hansen argued that early conversations about online safety are essential and can save lives. His central message was blunt: children should be taught not to communicate online with anyone they do not know in real life.

Hansen described the growing threat of sextortion, recounting cases in which teenage boys were targeted by scammers posing as young women, lured into sending explicit images, and then blackmailed with threats to release the pictures publicly. He said victims often feel unable to cope with the potential embarrassment—partly because young people's identities are so closely tied to their social media presence—and that some have taken their own lives. Hansen stressed that responsibility ultimately rests with parents, who he said should sit down with their children "at a very early age" the moment they gain access to the digital world. The article also references wider efforts on child online safety, including a measure signed by President Trump adding 200 child exploitation investigators.