The Internet -- Do you know what your kids are doing?

The Internet is a source of entertainment and social interaction.  Teens are spending more time in cyberspace; it has become the new mall, the place to hang out. The kids stay connected through such websites as myspace.com, bebo.com, tagged.com, facebook.com and myYearbook.com.      They can develop social skills, find emotional support and achieve greater success in school.  For those who struggle to fit in, it’s an easy way to connect with peers and provides a real self-esteem boost.  Shy teens feel empowered, accepted and valued.

The downside is that teens are more vulnerable to the reaches of sexual predators that are adept at accessing such sites as myspace.com, etc. They play on a child’s natural desire for attention, excitement or adventure.

University of New Hampshire Professor David Finkelhor, director of Crimes against Children Research Center reports ”one in 20 teenagers in the U.S. with access to a computer gets an aggressive communication online from an adult attempting to set up a meeting.” Many of these predators do not hide they are adults and are explicit about their intentions. Some however pretend to be teens themselves so that they can lure the young to a “secret rendezvous”. In addition to predators, teenagers have exploited each other through compromising images which have lead in some instances to threats of extortion. A Justice Department publication, “Use of Computers in the Sexual Exploitation of Children” states that 30 million minors go online making them easy targets. 

It is our responsibility, as parents and guardians, to do what we can to protect our greatest natural resource—our children.  We must be vigilant and deliberate in communicating with our children the dangers they face and how best to respond.  Steve DeWarns, a police officer with over 16 years’ experience has made numerous appearances before parent groups demonstrating how quickly a solicitation can occur and advising them on internet safety  Information is available on DeWarns’ website at   www.InternetChildSafety.net.

Additional sources addressing internet safety are:

NetSmartz Workshop...Keeping Kids Safer on the Internet   www.NetSmartz.org

The Parents' Guide to the Information Superhighway  www.childrenspartnership.org.

Play It Cyber Safe--- www.playitcybersafe.com

SafeKids.com---:   www.safekids.com

Stay Safe Online--- :    msn.staysafeonline.com/play.htm Interactive cartoon by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Microsoft  

Adventures in Internet Safety:    disney.go.com/surfswell/index.html

SafeTeens.com---:  www.safeteens.com

Internet Awareness(Dateline NBC)---:   www.perverted-justice.com

Teen Safety on the Information Highway: 1-800-843-5678. First 50 copies are free.