FBI Warns Idaho Parents To Be Aware Of “Doxing And Swatting”

Kids today have it bad. It used to be that if you were being bullied, you knew that when the bell rang at 3 o'clock, it was over until tomorrow. Now, with social media and cell phones, bullying happens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No wonder almost a quarter of all Idaho teenagers seriously consider suicide. Idaho is ranked 40th out of 50 states for suicide rate and has nearly twice the national average for teen suicide.

According to the FBI, there is something that parents need to be aware of, especially in Idaho. In addition to all of the other things parents need to be concerned about, like suicide, grades, after-school activities, bullying, cyberbullying, drugs, and mental health, the FBI says that parents need to watch for doxing and swatting.

Doxing and swatting can have serious consequences for families and individuals, making it crucial for parents to understand what they are and how to protect themselves and their children.

What is Doxing or Doxxing?

Doxing, short for "dropping documents." It's when someone drops publicly revealing information about someone else, like their address, phone number, or other details, without permission to cause harm.

With as much time kids spend on social media now, this kind of information can set someone up for cyberbullying, stalking, or physical harm.

What is Swatting?

Swatting is making a fake emergency call to law enforcement, making a false report about a serious incident at another person's address to have a SWAT team dispatched. This type of police response not only wastes the department's resources but also puts people in danger. Children suffer the most from the traumatic effects of swatting because of the fear and confusion it causes.
If you or your kids have any information about potential doxing or swatting activities, you should report it to the FBI HERE.