As long as there are kids online, there will be predators targeting them. Parents must realize that their teens may start out using the Internet for homework help or research purposes, but before long they will get involved in the world of social networking as well.
Facts about kids and Internet safety reveal that many times neither the kids nor the parents understand truly how sophisticated online predators have become and how little software is actually going to protect a younger person.
The Web Safe Kid website, a premier resource for parents serious about keeping children safe while they are gradually beginning their online learning, studying, and socializing habits, advocates that a safe child is an aware child. The reality goes even further than this; catching online predators requires awareness as well: those of parents, caregivers, law enforcement, and of course the child her- or himself! In some cases, such awareness might even permit one child to save another’s life!
Next to MySpace, Facebook is one of the most commonly accessed social networking sites. Teens especially seem to love Facebook and all it does and while the site aspires to keep posters and participants safe, there are some fact parents need to know. The new Internet safety policies on Facebook, much like the ones set forth by MySpace as enumerated on the Web Safe Kid website, focus on children over the age of 13.
Are teens and chat rooms recipe for disaster? Cases of abductions and sexual assaults abound and many times a predator managed to hook up with an unsuspecting teen via an online chat room.
At times the predator may have masqueraded as another teen and slowly built a relationship that way, while at other times the assailant was indeed a teen but did not divulge that the objective of the communication was more or less with the intent of personal sexual gratification or for personal profit.
Chat rooms can be fun for reading through and responding to every topic from whimsical relationship gossip to patriotic shout outs over our men and women over seas. Though this can be a simple way to filling free time those who enter a chat room should do so with caution.
Sites such as my space are useful in keeping up with friends, showing off photos and sharing life through technology. Though this newfound sensation has become popular over night it has now also become a portal for online bullies and predators to search for potential targets.
Due to this alarming reality for anyone who is considering setting up an online profile you must take precautions. There are seven key considerations to follow when setting up your online profile.
