| Most people would agree the internet is a fun and | | | | predators often spend a great deal of time, energy, |
| convenient resource to make new friends and learn | | | | and even income getting to know their victim. Some |
| new things. As technology advances so does the | | | | predators try and earn the victims trust by |
| accessibility of the internet. People can now surf the | | | | sympathizing with their problems and then gradually |
| internet via cell phones, laptop computers, and palm | | | | introduce sexually explicit material to their targets. This |
| pilots. The internet is everywhere from Libraries, | | | | process if often referred to as "grooming". |
| internet cafes, and school campuses across America. | | | | Now that we understand how the predator works we |
| While the internet has made it easier to shop, | | | | need to understand which type of young people are |
| communicate, and research it has also made the world | | | | more susceptible to becoming victims. According to |
| much more complex from a technical viewpoint. | | | | bewebaware.com, "teenagers who are new to online |
| Software companies spend millions of dollars trying to | | | | activity, actively seeking affection or attention, curious |
| protect users against hackers, predators, and | | | | about their sexuality or attracted by sub-culture apart |
| scammers. Sadly, these companies seem to be one | | | | from their parents world are most likely to become |
| step behind the cyber criminals who are very intelligent | | | | victims ." This makes sense because this is the time |
| and skilled at exploitation. These criminals do not lurk in | | | | where teenagers are figuring out who they are and |
| alleys or bars; instead they roam the information super | | | | where they belong. This makes them even more of an |
| highway and prey upon the vulnerable. Internet | | | | attractive target to pedophiles, because teenagers are |
| predators come from various types of social, | | | | opens to suggestion. Parents can counteract this by |
| economic and ethnic backgrounds. Internet predators | | | | talking to their kids about online threats andkeeping |
| are very hard to detect because the majority of them | | | | communication lines open. Education is the most |
| look non-threatening and some even hold very | | | | important tool because like the internet it can be |
| prestigious occupations. A great example of this is | | | | accessed anywhere. |
| Senator Mark Foley, who used the internet to prey | | | | Most parents would never consider allowing a stranger |
| upon teenage boys working in the White House. | | | | to come into their home and spend time with their kids |
| Many adults know very little about the online world. | | | | unsupervised. The internet should not be treated any |
| Most kids end up teaching their parents how to use | | | | different. Supervision in this context includes monitoring |
| the internet. The internet is being taught to kids in | | | | the pc when kids are online and setting rules for |
| middle school which is overall a good idea, but it can | | | | computer usage. Parents should try to accompany |
| create some problems such as kids having | | | | their kids online and observe the websites they visit. |
| moretechnical expertise than their parents and | | | | This is especially true for kids who are new to the |
| teachers. The average teenager knows more about | | | | internet. If a parent feels comfortable with their kid |
| configuring, downloading, and installing programs than | | | | being online they can make sure the computer is |
| their guardians. Parents often feel they can not learn | | | | placed in a common area of the home. Computers |
| computer skills so their children are often left to | | | | with internet access should never be placed in a child's |
| manage thecomputer. Parents and kids are both in a | | | | bedroom. It is much more difficult for a predator to |
| bad situation because parents do not know how to | | | | form a relationship when the monitor is visible to the |
| use the computer and kids lack the experience and | | | | parent at all times. Parents also need to set up some |
| maturity to make sound decisions about online safety. | | | | guidelines for their kid's internet usage. Most guidelines |
| Parents often under estimate the dangers that lurk | | | | are common sense such as telling kids not to open |
| online and sadly our children are paying the price for it. | | | | emails or instant messages from people they do not |
| At any given moment there are 50,000 child predators | | | | know. Parents also need to instruct their kids on what |
| online looking for their next victim. These criminals use | | | | chat rooms are okay for them to visit and with whom |
| websites such as Myspace, AOL and Yahoo to | | | | they communicate with in these rooms. I advise |
| facilitate communications with unsuspecting kids The | | | | parents to go into the chat room and monitor the |
| best way to keep children safe is by education, | | | | traffic on several different occasions before letting a |
| supervision, and installation of software for protection | | | | child chat unsupervised. Daniel Armagh suggests, is |
| against online predators. | | | | also a good idea for young kids to share an email |
| When most people think of the word "predator" they | | | | account with their parents, because parents will know |
| think of a lion or bear, because these animals hunt | | | | exactly what is going on via email. Parents may want |
| prey weaker and smaller than them. According to the | | | | to give older kids their own email address which is |
| American Heritage Dictionary a predator is defined as: | | | | okay only if the parent knows the password and |
| "One that victimizes, plunders, or destroys, especially | | | | monitor all incoming and outgoing communications |
| for one's own gain." Internet predators behave in this | | | | Parents should also have rules regarding meeting |
| manner because they target children who are weaker | | | | people from the internet. These rules should be strictly |
| emotionally, intellectually and physically and then exploit | | | | enforced. One such rule is if a meeting doestake place |
| them for their own sexual gratification. Pedophiles no | | | | a parent needs to be in attendance. According to Andi |
| longer have to stalk playgrounds or toy stores; instead | | | | Atwater, "households who have a rule about meeting |
| they can access the internet and within seconds | | | | online acquaintances (which 74 per cent of households |
| locate an unassuming child. Parents have a difficult | | | | have) reduces the likelihood of this happening by |
| time protecting their kids from threats they themselves | | | | one-half. There are other things parents can do such |
| can not see. Internet Predators pose a much bigger | | | | as choosing a gender-neutral screen name that does |
| challenge to parents and children because the internet | | | | not contain sexually suggestive words or reveal |
| is everywhere. | | | | personal information. Good examples of gender neutral |
| It is a well known fact, many children know more | | | | screen names are Scorpio343, Gametime747 or |
| about how to operate a computer than their parents. | | | | logic372. Avoid screen names that have words like girl, |
| Kids typically start learning basic computer literacy | | | | boy, princess, prince, Barbie, flower, or numbers that |
| starting in elementary school. The first step to keeping | | | | may indicate age, zip code or area code. Also avoid |
| children safe is for parents to get educated | | | | screen names that have school mascot or logos in it. |
| themselves about the dangers online. Parents can do | | | | Children should never have their photo on a chat room |
| this by watching television, reading newspapers, or | | | | profile. Since the internet can be accessed from |
| talking to their local police department. Parents also | | | | virtually anywhere it is unreasonable to expect parents |
| need to have basic computer skills such as learning | | | | to be able to monitor their kids surfing while their kids |
| how to operate the computer, use the internet, | | | | are at school or at friends houses.. Parents can |
| download and install programs. Many colleges and | | | | however find out what type of safeguards these |
| vocational institutions offer inexpensive computer | | | | places have to keep children safe. The internet is a |
| classes. Parents also can get help from neighbors or | | | | great place for kids to explore and a great resource |
| friends who are computer proficient. Parents then | | | | for children to learn new things, play games, and |
| need to educate their children about the dangers online | | | | communicate with their friends and parents should |
| becauseaccording to the FBI, one out of five kids will | | | | journey the internet with their children. |
| be solicited by an online pedophile When children | | | | The third and final safety measure parents can take is |
| understand the dangers that exist online they are less | | | | to install software such as parental control software.. |
| likely to become victims. Most parents spend time | | | | Parental control software is a type of program that |
| telling their kids about the dangers of talking to | | | | can be installed on a pc that limits where a child can |
| strangers and this same principal should also apply | | | | visit online. Some parental control software can even |
| online. | | | | monitor all outgoing and incoming communications. This |
| Learning how to use the computer is an essential step | | | | means that it keeps track of every email, instant |
| in keeping children safe, but parents should equally | | | | message, and website your child sends or receives. |
| understand who they are protecting their kids from | | | | This software is typically easy to install and utilize. |
| and how they operate. Most online predators establish | | | | Taking these measures will ensure the safety of |
| contact with kids via internet chat rooms, forums, and | | | | children on the internet. |
| instant messages. Online predators typically visit local | | | | Pamela Arsena |
| chat rooms. These predators keep up with local trends | | | | Do you really know how to protect your kids online? |
| such as popular music, television, and hobbies. Online | | | | |