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Since the Internet first became available to the general
public, there have been those who would use it for criminal
purposes. As the Internet is used by more and more
people with each passing day, so too are more people
finding even more ways to give the Internet a bad name.
The term Internet safety encompasses quite a broad range
of topics. The main ones range from the merely annoying
and sometimes costly viruses, spyware, and spam, to
identity theft and personal information safety, scams and
fraud, hackers, child pornography, and the sexual
predator, who threaten not only adults but our children as
well.
As the various branches of internet safety are so numerous, and there are nearly an infinite number of websites
devoted to each of them, the concentration here will be on internet safety for our children.
The amount of information on the Internet is virtually boundless, and the subjects covered is vast. Since the
Internet is not formally censored, there are topics available that are inappropriate for children. These can range
from hate and bigotry, to adult material, child pornography, misinformation, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, hacking
information, and the list goes on and on. Some of this material is appropriate only for adults, and some isn't
appropriate for anyone. And then, of course, there are the predators. Unfortunately, there are people, both men
and women, who prey on children online and offline. These people are pedophiles.
Until the advent of the Internet, pedophiles
were essentially loners. Unfortunately, the
anonymity of the Internet has emboldened
many pedophiles. They have formed very
active groups online, feeling less threatened
because they do not meet face-to-face, and
can hide behind their computer monitor.
These groups often educate pedophiles
about how to lure children into face-to-face
meetings. They share tips that have proven
successful, and share arguments that can be
used to get past the child's "stranger danger"
defenses. They teach each other about
recent popular topics and products which can
be used to lure children into face-to-face
meetings.
Although some of these sites may be illegal,
many are not. Speech is highly protected in
the United States, and many of these sites
fall into the area of protected speech. Just be
cause they are legal, however, doesn't mean
that our children should be exposed to them.
But even the most dangerous online predator
hasn't yet mastered the technology to allow
them to reach through the monitor and grab
your children. Your child may be emotionally
wounded by an online predator, but they are
truly endangered if the predator tries to reach
your child offline as well. But they can't do that
unless your child shares information that would
allow the predator to find your child, or unless your child affirmatively wants to meet that person.
As a parent, educator or caretaker, you need to guard against that happening. Your child should be carefully
taught not to share personal information online, whether on a profile or in a chat room. You have to teach them
what information is personal. You may want to encourage them to use fun online aliases, rather than their own
names. You may want to use filtering software which prevents them from sharing personal information with
others online.
You child should not be allowed to surf alone in their room. It should be a family activity, in a central location.
This will make it harder for the predator to get your child alone long enough to lure them into an offline meeting.
Teach them never to meet anyone they met online, offline. Teach them that people online may not be whom
they seem to be or whom they say they are.
If you, as a parent or guardian, are concerned that a child may have been contacted by a sexual predator,
either on-line or off-line, please do not hesitate to contact Union City Police Department or your local law
enforcement agency and provide them with any and all information you may have. By parents providing the
proper education and supervision, along with the help of educators and law enforcement, our children can be
kept safe in a world which can often be dangerous to the young and naive.
public, there have been those who would use it for criminal
purposes. As the Internet is used by more and more
people with each passing day, so too are more people
finding even more ways to give the Internet a bad name.
The term Internet safety encompasses quite a broad range
of topics. The main ones range from the merely annoying
and sometimes costly viruses, spyware, and spam, to
identity theft and personal information safety, scams and
fraud, hackers, child pornography, and the sexual
predator, who threaten not only adults but our children as
well.
As the various branches of internet safety are so numerous, and there are nearly an infinite number of websites
devoted to each of them, the concentration here will be on internet safety for our children.
The amount of information on the Internet is virtually boundless, and the subjects covered is vast. Since the
Internet is not formally censored, there are topics available that are inappropriate for children. These can range
from hate and bigotry, to adult material, child pornography, misinformation, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, hacking
information, and the list goes on and on. Some of this material is appropriate only for adults, and some isn't
appropriate for anyone. And then, of course, there are the predators. Unfortunately, there are people, both men
and women, who prey on children online and offline. These people are pedophiles.
Until the advent of the Internet, pedophiles
were essentially loners. Unfortunately, the
anonymity of the Internet has emboldened
many pedophiles. They have formed very
active groups online, feeling less threatened
because they do not meet face-to-face, and
can hide behind their computer monitor.
These groups often educate pedophiles
about how to lure children into face-to-face
meetings. They share tips that have proven
successful, and share arguments that can be
used to get past the child's "stranger danger"
defenses. They teach each other about
recent popular topics and products which can
be used to lure children into face-to-face
meetings.
Although some of these sites may be illegal,
many are not. Speech is highly protected in
the United States, and many of these sites
fall into the area of protected speech. Just be
cause they are legal, however, doesn't mean
that our children should be exposed to them.
But even the most dangerous online predator
hasn't yet mastered the technology to allow
them to reach through the monitor and grab
your children. Your child may be emotionally
wounded by an online predator, but they are
truly endangered if the predator tries to reach
your child offline as well. But they can't do that
unless your child shares information that would
allow the predator to find your child, or unless your child affirmatively wants to meet that person.
As a parent, educator or caretaker, you need to guard against that happening. Your child should be carefully
taught not to share personal information online, whether on a profile or in a chat room. You have to teach them
what information is personal. You may want to encourage them to use fun online aliases, rather than their own
names. You may want to use filtering software which prevents them from sharing personal information with
others online.
You child should not be allowed to surf alone in their room. It should be a family activity, in a central location.
This will make it harder for the predator to get your child alone long enough to lure them into an offline meeting.
Teach them never to meet anyone they met online, offline. Teach them that people online may not be whom
they seem to be or whom they say they are.
If you, as a parent or guardian, are concerned that a child may have been contacted by a sexual predator,
either on-line or off-line, please do not hesitate to contact Union City Police Department or your local law
enforcement agency and provide them with any and all information you may have. By parents providing the
proper education and supervision, along with the help of educators and law enforcement, our children can be
kept safe in a world which can often be dangerous to the young and naive.
| Union City Indiana Police Department 309 W Pearl St Union City, Indiana, 47390 (765) 964-5353 |
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