DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – How do I keep my children safe online? It's a question a lot of parents are asking.

In this age of text messages, messaging apps and social media, experts say that while these outlets can help some connect, they can also lead to a lot of trouble.

The troubled side of social platforms, for children especially, has brought a Durham father to speak out, urging parents to take precautions. CBS 17 is not identifying him, because of what he said happened to his 12-year-old daughter over the weekend which ended in her being kidnapped.

"It started from a Discord conversation, which is an app that lets you communicate with other people," he said. "[He] had convinced her to send him photos of the kind... of not nice nature."

Preston Baker, the 22-year-old who the 12-year-old was speaking to, is now facing kidnapping and statutory rape charges, and is held on a $1.5 million bond.

Preston Baker, 22, makes a virtual court appearance.

In court on Monday, his temporary attorney said there's more to the story, claiming the 7th grader was pretending to be a 19-year-old college student. He added the two were in a relationship and she had met Baker's family.

Baker's family did not wish to comment when CBS 17 contacted them.

While investigators work to figure out what happened, experts said this is one more reason why kids need to be careful.

"Social media has really opened Pandora's box," said Senior Investigator Joseph Tarlton, with the Juvenile Crimes Division of the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

He couldn't talk about this specific case, but wanted to alert parents about what can happen online.

"You could be talking to who you assume would be somebody in the next town over and they could be in another country. You start talking to that person, exchanging messages and photos, and then the next thing you know, they're threatening to send a picture or communication to somebody else," said Tarlton.

He said there are some things parents can do.

"Check your preferences. The child can't go by phone, right, they're being bought by parents. Parents are inevitably controlling that device," Tarlton added.

On Tuesday, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched a brand-new initiative called, "No Escape Room," to educate parents about how to protect their kids and continue to keep the lines of communication open.

"I think that there is a tendency to assume that something is happening with somebody in another room. This is happening throughout the day. The phone and the kid's hands, they are in communication with individuals all around the world all day long. So, it's more important than ever to talk to your kids, understand what they're doing online, and make sure they know they can come to you if something goes wrong," said President & CEO Michelle DeLaune.