Protection From Predators
For most of us, going online is a way to research a topic, find a new car or communicate with friends and family far away. For some individuals, going online has a much more sinister purpose. Instances of online stalking or cyberstalking are constantly in the news, but as a parent, how can you protect your child from those online predators that you are constantly reading about?
What is online stalking? It is a form of harassment that uses Internet technology. An online stalker can be someone of any age, sex or race. Harassment is any type of action that causes a person to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone they know. In most cases this is considered a crime. Online predators communicate with their victims through chat rooms or e-mails. What type of behavior is considered harassment?
o Following an individual from place to place on a regular basis.
o Communicating with an individual, directly or indirectly, on a regular basis.
o Watching an individual at home, at work or anywhere they happen to be on a regular basis.
o Engaging in threatening behavior directed at an individual or any person they know.
What are profile characteristics of most online predators?
o Most likely male
o Introverted
o Seductive
o Sadistic
o Sexually indiscriminate
o Morally indiscriminate
Most online predators will use attention, affection and even gifts to seduce their targets. They will be willing to spend a lot of time, energy and money in their pursuit. They will know about the latest trends in music, hobbies and interests of the age they are targeting; in other words, they do their homework. They will listen and empathize with a kid's problems. Some online predators will gradually introduce sexual content into their conversations, and some will do so immediately. At the same time they are communicating online, they may be evaluating the child's responses for a possible face-to-face meeting.
What steps can a parent take to protect their child from online predators?
o Talk with your child about the potential online dangers.
o Find out what your child's favorite online destinations are.
o Don't keep the computer with Internet access in your child's room. Keep it somewhere where everyone has access.
o Steer younger children away from chat rooms. Monitor the chat rooms of older children.
o Don't let younger children have their own e-mail address, but let them use the family e-mail. With older children let them have their own address with mail coming to the family mailbox.
o Know what safeguards are in place at school, the library and friends' homes.
o Let your child know they should not download pictures from an unknown source.
o Have them choose a genderless name and don't reveal their age.
What are some of the signs that your child could be being stalked by an online predator?
o They spend a lot of time online.
o There is pornography on the computer.
o They are getting and making phone calls to people or numbers you don't know.
o They get mail, gifts or packages from people you don't know.
o They turn off or change the monitor as soon as you enter the room.
o They withdraw from family and friends.
o They are using an online account that belongs to someone else.
You should contact the police:
o If your child or anyone in the household receives child pornography
o If your child has been sexually solicited
o If your child receives sexually explicit images from someone
Even though it sounds like an invasion of privacy, and chances are your child will feel that way, the best way to prevent your child from becoming a victim of an online predator is to monitor their access to electronic communications and their e-mail. Most online predators meet their victims in chat rooms. It's unfortunate that one of the greatest inventions of all time has the potential for such evil, but unfortunately, that's progress.
For most of us, going online is a way to research a topic, find a new car or communicate with friends and family far away. For some individuals, going online has a much more sinister purpose. Instances of online stalking or cyberstalking are constantly in the news, but as a parent, how can you protect your child from those online predators that you are constantly reading about?
What is online stalking? It is a form of harassment that uses Internet technology. An online stalker can be someone of any age, sex or race. Harassment is any type of action that causes a person to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone they know. In most cases this is considered a crime. Online predators communicate with their victims through chat rooms or e-mails. What type of behavior is considered harassment?
o Following an individual from place to place on a regular basis.
o Communicating with an individual, directly or indirectly, on a regular basis.
o Watching an individual at home, at work or anywhere they happen to be on a regular basis.
o Engaging in threatening behavior directed at an individual or any person they know.
What are profile characteristics of most online predators?
o Most likely male
o Introverted
o Seductive
o Sadistic
o Sexually indiscriminate
o Morally indiscriminate
Most online predators will use attention, affection and even gifts to seduce their targets. They will be willing to spend a lot of time, energy and money in their pursuit. They will know about the latest trends in music, hobbies and interests of the age they are targeting; in other words, they do their homework. They will listen and empathize with a kid's problems. Some online predators will gradually introduce sexual content into their conversations, and some will do so immediately. At the same time they are communicating online, they may be evaluating the child's responses for a possible face-to-face meeting.
What steps can a parent take to protect their child from online predators?
o Talk with your child about the potential online dangers.
o Find out what your child's favorite online destinations are.
o Don't keep the computer with Internet access in your child's room. Keep it somewhere where everyone has access.
o Steer younger children away from chat rooms. Monitor the chat rooms of older children.
o Don't let younger children have their own e-mail address, but let them use the family e-mail. With older children let them have their own address with mail coming to the family mailbox.
o Know what safeguards are in place at school, the library and friends' homes.
o Let your child know they should not download pictures from an unknown source.
o Have them choose a genderless name and don't reveal their age.
What are some of the signs that your child could be being stalked by an online predator?
o They spend a lot of time online.
o There is pornography on the computer.
o They are getting and making phone calls to people or numbers you don't know.
o They get mail, gifts or packages from people you don't know.
o They turn off or change the monitor as soon as you enter the room.
o They withdraw from family and friends.
o They are using an online account that belongs to someone else.
You should contact the police:
o If your child or anyone in the household receives child pornography
o If your child has been sexually solicited
o If your child receives sexually explicit images from someone
Even though it sounds like an invasion of privacy, and chances are your child will feel that way, the best way to prevent your child from becoming a victim of an online predator is to monitor their access to electronic communications and their e-mail. Most online predators meet their victims in chat rooms. It's unfortunate that one of the greatest inventions of all time has the potential for such evil, but unfortunately, that's progress.
