Your child is not completely safe at home anymore
Your son or daughter could be stalked, bullied or harassed right in the comfort of your own home. In today’s Internet world, protecting your child does not start when they leave the house, it starts at home when they are old enough to use a computer. Threats on the Internet come in all forms and fashions and in order to protect your child you must stay informed.
This week’s article kicks off a four week series on how to protect your child from the dangers of the Internet. This week we will look at sexual predators, in week two we will look at some additional dangers, in the 3rd week we will talk about some tips to help protect your child and the final week I will help you pick out a suite of software to protect and monitor your child’s activities.
Before I get into the dangers, I wanted to state that this series is not designed to scare you away from allowing your children to surf the Internet, but more of an informative discussion so that you can take action. The Internet is full of useful tools and resources for children of all ages. My toddler, with mom and dad’s help of course, plays educational online games. School kids of all ages use database and resources to do research for school projects.
You would think that sitting behind a computer in the safety of your home does not lend itself to being threatened, but the danger is real. According to the FBI, over 10,000 individuals were arrested in 2007 and over 22,000 cases were opened regarding Internet based sexual crimes on children. Officials state that the amount of online sex based crime is continually on the rise.
The biggest threat online to your children comes from sexual predators. Sitting behind your computer can give one a feeling of safety due to a certain level perceived anonymity, but predators have the ability to use that comfort to their advantage.
Most predators meet children online in chat rooms. Disguised as a fellow lonely child, the predator quickly gains the trust of his or her mark. Often nurturing these relationships over long periods of time, the would be predator covertly extracts key bits of information such as the child’s full name, town, school and maybe her parents work schedule. All seemingly innocent bits of information, the predator uses this information to further gain the trust of the child and create a plan of action. If the predator is lucky he will become a friend on his mark’s MySpace page where he can gain more valuable data and if he is real lucky, some racy photos of her and her friends. In the end, most often the result is detrimental to the mark, sexual battery, rape, kidnapping, prostitution or sometimes death.
Just because the predator does not live next door, doesn’t mean he or she does not have access to your child. Children and predators have been known to travel several states or across the world to meet.
Sexual predators are not the only threat to your child on the Internet. Next week we will touch on some less known hazards your child may be exposed to online.
It is your job as a parent to stay informed, protect and teach your child. You alone cannot keep your child safe, but knowing the dangers is a first step in keeping them safe.
I will be posting some online resources at my website www.connectutech.com. These resources will include a list of software and links to more information.
This week’s article kicks off a four week series on how to protect your child from the dangers of the Internet. This week we will look at sexual predators, in week two we will look at some additional dangers, in the 3rd week we will talk about some tips to help protect your child and the final week I will help you pick out a suite of software to protect and monitor your child’s activities.
Before I get into the dangers, I wanted to state that this series is not designed to scare you away from allowing your children to surf the Internet, but more of an informative discussion so that you can take action. The Internet is full of useful tools and resources for children of all ages. My toddler, with mom and dad’s help of course, plays educational online games. School kids of all ages use database and resources to do research for school projects.
You would think that sitting behind a computer in the safety of your home does not lend itself to being threatened, but the danger is real. According to the FBI, over 10,000 individuals were arrested in 2007 and over 22,000 cases were opened regarding Internet based sexual crimes on children. Officials state that the amount of online sex based crime is continually on the rise.
The biggest threat online to your children comes from sexual predators. Sitting behind your computer can give one a feeling of safety due to a certain level perceived anonymity, but predators have the ability to use that comfort to their advantage.
Most predators meet children online in chat rooms. Disguised as a fellow lonely child, the predator quickly gains the trust of his or her mark. Often nurturing these relationships over long periods of time, the would be predator covertly extracts key bits of information such as the child’s full name, town, school and maybe her parents work schedule. All seemingly innocent bits of information, the predator uses this information to further gain the trust of the child and create a plan of action. If the predator is lucky he will become a friend on his mark’s MySpace page where he can gain more valuable data and if he is real lucky, some racy photos of her and her friends. In the end, most often the result is detrimental to the mark, sexual battery, rape, kidnapping, prostitution or sometimes death.
Just because the predator does not live next door, doesn’t mean he or she does not have access to your child. Children and predators have been known to travel several states or across the world to meet.
Sexual predators are not the only threat to your child on the Internet. Next week we will touch on some less known hazards your child may be exposed to online.
It is your job as a parent to stay informed, protect and teach your child. You alone cannot keep your child safe, but knowing the dangers is a first step in keeping them safe.
I will be posting some online resources at my website www.connectutech.com. These resources will include a list of software and links to more information.
posted by Eric at
6:19 AM
