As it has been said in a famous computer cartoon
"nobody on the Internet knows I'm a dog".
I can pretend who I want to be, fake my age, my weight, my looks, my likes and dislikes.
I will be anything you want, let's just get together !
MySpace and BLOGS
On Feb. 6th, 2006 the PTA had a New Jersey Federal Agent talk to parents about On-Line Security. Many of the safety items he discussed are common sense, to adults. Children, on the other hand do not see any problems with On-Line communications. Post intimate thoughts, their age, home address, hobbies, activities, cell phone numbers, and screen names seems to be the "thing to do". Unfortunately there are people out there who use this "communications" to entice your child into their world. A world no parent would allow. There are many dangerous new forms of communication abilities, but remember it can be the old cell phone. A child talking for an hour on the cell phone may not seem like someone nearing trouble. But a 14 year old talking to a 42 year old male from South Carolina should not be considered normal. Why would a child talk to a 42 year old man? With a voice changer "he" can sound like a "she", or in a chat room "he" becomes an interesting 21 year old. Sounds can be deceiving.
People who prey on children are taking advantage of a child's lack of fear and understanding of dangerous behavior. If you wouldn't let your 14 year old ride in a car with a unknown 42 year old male, why would you allow them to contact each other no less have a long term relationship ? A child posting their cell phone number on a Blog (on line diary) or web page (MySpace) is creating a serious problem. People that prey on children grow on that child by using long term contact as normalcy. Little hints of "dirty talk" become normal conversation over the months. A child talking (on-line, IM or E-mail) to someone for months with someone they don't really know will take chances that an adult will know is dangerous or deadly. Life to a teen can seem better with someone with the same interests and likes, then with parents that seem to enjoy annoying them. These new On-Line communications allow anyone to communicate with your children, whether that person is from a different state no less different country. These people that want to prey on children disguise their age, looks and past arrest records. Their only quest to get that face to face meeting, alone. No matter if it takes months or a year, through deception, presents or kind words. Their only desire is prey on a unwitting child.
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As it has been said in a famous computer cartoon "nobody on the Internet knows I'm a dog". I can pretend who I want to be, fake my age, my weight, my looks, my likes and dislikes. I will be anything you want, let's just get together ! |
The sites below can help you understand what HAS and CAN happen to unsuspecting children using these new open, no-holds-bar, On-Line communication forms.
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
http://www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/newsletter/2006/i-Educator-02-06.pdf.