NetSmartz Workshop (Nat'l Center for Missing & Exploited Children) |
Protecting Against Internet Predators
It
is appalling to think that a sexual child predator could find their
way into our small community. But with today's technology, it can happen.
We, as adults and parents, must ensure that we are doing all that we
can to maximize our children's safety while on the Internet.
Statistics indicate that only about 25% of children will tell a parent about an encounter with a predator who approached or solicited sex while on the Internet, and less than 10% report sexual solicitation to legal authorities. Only 1/3 of online households in the United States proactively protect their children and teens by using filtering or blocking software. Let's not be a part of these statistics by doing our utmost to ensure the safety of our children.
- Take an active role in your child's online activities.
- Keep the computer in a common area, not in individual bedrooms.
- Talk to the parents of your child's friends, public library and school to find out if their computers are protected.
Forbid your child from entering private chat rooms; block them with
safety features provided by your Internet service provider or with
special filtering software. Pedophiles (adults who are sexually interested
in children) are known to frequent chat rooms. (Predators sometimes
prod their online acquaintances to exchange personal information, such
as addresses and phone numbers, thus putting the kids they are chatting
with - and their families - at risk. Many pedophiles pose as teenagers
in chat rooms. Because many kids have been told by parents not to give
out their home phone numbers, pedophiles may encourage kids to call
them; with caller id, the offenders instantly have the kids' phone
numbers.)
- Be aware of your child's password(s). Share an email account with them and monitor your child's Internet visits. Bookmark their favorite sites to better control access.
- Ask your child to never give out personal information such as his or her name, address, telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of his school without specific permission.
- Tell your child to never agree to get together with someone he or she "meets" online and to never trade personal photographs in the mail or scanned photographs over the Internet.
- "Don't talk to strangers" is just as good advice on the net as it is on the street.
- Is your child spending long hours online, especially at night? Are you receiving phone calls from people you don't know? Are surprise gifts arriving in your mail? Is your child quickly turning off the computer when you walk into the room? Is your child withdrawn and reluctant to discuss online activities? If the answer is yes, your child may already be a victim or could soon be one. Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange. If your child receives pornography or tells you that he is being solicited, contact your local law enforcement agency or the FBI immediately.