Protect Your Kids from Online Predators
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In many ways the omnipresence of the internet has improved daily life and increased our abilities to learn, communicate, and create new content. However, one of the downfalls of the internet revolution is the emergence of online predators. Kids are using the internet at younger ages and spending more time online than ever before. According to I-safe.org, in a study of 36,000 kids in grades 5 through 12, 80 of students said they spent at least an hour online every week. 55 of these kids also said they have given out personal information to someone they met online.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children conducted a study in 2006 to measure the prevalence of online sexual solicitation. Of the children surveyed, 34 said they were exposed to unwanted sexual material and 40 said someone online had asked them for nude or sexually explicit photographs of themselves. Kids are such an easy target because they are often happy to receive attention and might not recognize the danger of such a situation. The innocence of a young child could also lead them to look past the dangers of having a conversation with an unknown adult, who claims to want to be their friend.At times it can be difficult for parents to monitor their children’s online activity, but doing so is imperative to keeping them safe. In an effort to combat this problem, many internet companies are working to create systems that allow parents to check and monitor what sites their children are visiting. Blocks can be placed on certain websites that are deemed explicit or unsafe for a child. Limiting the amount of time your child spends on the internet is another way to prevent them from being solicited by a cyber predator. Open and honest conversations with your kids explaining what information they should never give out and what is and is not appropriate is one of the best ways to avoid having this problem.