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Online Predators

 

Beware of predators who may be online wanting to chat with your youngsters via the computer, cell phone or other devices. This article is intended to inform of unsafe online activities, such as “sexting,” which are practiced by some young people. Parents need to be fully informed about these potential dangers.

Research has shown that 82% of online sex crimes against minors begin with the offender using the child’s social networking site to gain information.

Some Startling Facts

 

Today’s youth are increasingly using the Internet for many reasons that include researching information for school projects, playing games, entertainment and for communicating with friends.

However, the Internet contains many threats to the safety and innocence of our children, including sexually explicit material, sexual predators, child pornography, violence and cyber bullying.

Continued advances in technology provide an ever-widening avenue by which our children can be reached.

According to the FBI, computer telecommunications have become one of the most prevalent techniques used by pedophiles to share illegal photographic images of minors and to lure children into illicit sexual relationships. The Internet has dramatically increased the access of the preferential sex offenders to population they seek to victimize and provides them greater access to a community of people who validate their sexual preferences.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reveals:

* Approximately one in seven youth online ( 10 to 17 years old ) received either a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.

* Four percent (4% ) received an aggressive sexual solicitation – a solicitor who asked to meet them somewhere, called them on the telephone, or sent them offline mail, money or gifts.

* Thirty-four percent ( 34% ) had an unwanted exposure to sexual material – pictures of either nude people or people having sex.

* One in five girls and one in ten boys will be sexually victimized before adulthood.

The only way to ensure the safety of the millions of children who use the Internet each day is through education that informs them and their parents about the dangers, and teaches them ways to stay safe while using the Internet.

Since more children than ever are using the Internet, it is important for children, parents, teachers, school administrators, law enforcement, community groups and librarians to be informed about the dangers that children may encounter online, as well as how to use the Internet safely.

The safety of children in the online environment should never be taken for granted.  Parents must know of and use the many resources available to help protect their children from the dangers of the internet.

 

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