One of the distinguishing features of the teenage mindset that typically make parents nutty is the attitude that the individual teenager is invincible. Teenagers typically know that they can do anything without any serious consequences to their physical well-being or safety. Parents know differently. And, with internet activities, some parents don’t know how to supervise their children effectively because they haven’t accumulated enough online experience.
Out of all the children online everyday, I believe the actual number of safety incidents is comparatively small. However, this is definitely not a comfort to the children and their parents who are the victims of child predators and hate mongers. One victimized child is way too much. Remember that anyone online is a potential target.
On the internet, one person can have as many usernames, nicknames or personalities as they want. One person can pretend to be a businessperson, a youngster, a customer, a student or whatever else the imagination allows. Ordinary persons who use the internet can use different personas online daily. They can have their business persona with business accounts and email addresses. Then the same person can have their personal persona and email that is used for family and friends. And, they can also have an online persona and email for online forums, subscriptions and website registrations. Don’t forget that the internet is a tool that can be used for good or bad purposes depending on the intent of the user. So, cybercriminals, online fraudsters, hate mongers and child predators can also have their own set of personas. There is not an absolute way of determining whether a person is whom they claim to be online.
This is the safety concern with children (from the youngest to those of legal age in your state or country) at social networking communities. Parents need to closely supervise the child’s list of “friends” at social networking communities. They need to supervise what their child posts and what is being posted about them by their “friends”. Teenagers need to be reminded to avoid strangers online. Anyone you don’t already know in the everyday world is a stranger.
One of the tactics of a child predator is to be what the child needs them to be in order to gain their trust. If the child needs someone to talk to, they will be there to listen. If your child needs someone to help, they will have some kind of a problem. This friendship can be nurtured for a whole second or for a few months or even for a few years before the topic turns to sex.
Even if your child doesn’t post their address, picture, school information or phone number, they can potentially be found through the personal pages of a neighborhood friend or classmate at a social networking community. Parents need, for the safety of their children, to be nosy about all social networking website registrations, pages, activities and friends related to your children.
Unfortunately, there are perverted internet users waiting to contact someone whom they think is a young person for the purposes of sharing sexual acts over the internet or even trying to lure them for a meeting. Everyone must be careful.
Be sure your teenager and their friends don’t post personal information that can be pieced together to locate them, especially at chatrooms social networking communities (talk with other parents if you have to). You also want to be certain that your teenager checks with you first before making any appointments to meet anyone, including at parties that may be at an unfamiliar address. Keep in mind that your child doesn’t have “your other eyes” around watching them as they do in your neighborhood. Nurture an open relationship with your child. Let them feel that they can approach you if a bad situation happens. And, always remember that it is not the child’s fault if a predator approaches them.