Hard News, Stronger Connection: Talking with Your Teen About the Epstein Files

When a story involving power, exploitation, and abuse dominates the news cycle, it doesn’t stay in the adult world for long. It filters into group chats, TikTok clips, locker room conversations, and lunch tables.

Your teenwill hear about the Epstein files. The question isn’t if they’ll be exposed to it — it’s whether they’ll process it with you or without you. This is a real life teachable moment! 

As a parent, it’s normal to feel unsettled — especially when the topic involves sexual abuse, powerful adults, and questions of justice.

But avoiding the topic doesn’t protect adolescents. Silence often sends kids to Google, YouTube, or social feeds to fill in the gaps — sometimes in ways more sensational than accurate. The goal isn’t to overwhelm them with details — it’s to help them understand what’s true, what’s not, and how these stories relate to broader themes of safety, power, and exploitation.

This po...