What are Cyber Predators
Cyber predators are individuals who use the internet to take advantage of people financially, psychologically or sexually. Often times because of the anonymity of the internet these predators are able to seek out victims with ease. They often choose those who are not familiar with the Internet or are young on order to get what they seek. More often than not, these predators target children and attempt to meet them outside of their home for sexual encounters. They use email, chartrooms and social networking sites to look for their victims. Often they will gain a Child's trust by listening and pretending to care about what the child is saying. They might try to relate with the child by pretending to have common interests in music movies and TV shows. These predators often don’t hide their age because age works for their advantage since kids often find that having the attention of an older person validates their plights more. These predators work on kids over weeks and months slowly gaining the Child's trust and slowly introducing adult material to the child. Often they will get the child to meet them outside of home for sexual encounters or with the promises of gifts.
Legal and Safety issues
Because of the anonymity, the internet provides it is often hard to search out and find cyber predators. Emails, chat names, and Social Profiles can all altered to read whatever the predator likes leaving the real identity of the person in question. With that being said, the federal government has passed several laws to help protect children from online predators. These laws allow federal agencies wires tapping authority to help catch online predators.
Tips for Students
- Choose Internet name that are gender neutral
- If anyone online makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason tell you parents or a teacher.
- Never give out personal information such as phone numbers, schools you attended or where you will be.
- If your friend tells, you of a relationship online that you think is inappropriate discuss your feeling with an adult.
- Never open a file or email from anyone you do not know.
- Never leave a chatrooms public room for a private one.
Tips for Teachers
- Use private social networking sites such as Edmodo for classroom projects.
- Ask your school’s Computer Administrator if all your classroom computers have filters installed.
- Educate students about online responsibility and of the dangers for cyber predators.
- If you believe, a student is evolved in an inappropriate online relationship make your principle aware of your concerns.
- Post Internet Safety rules next to each computer in your classroom.
Tips for Parents
- Install and maintain your computer's porn filter.
- Check your computer history to see what sites your child has been visiting.
- Talk to your children about the dangers or cyber predators
- Do not allow children to create accounts online, which have age restrictions if they are under the sites age.
- Keep your children away from chart rooms.
- Monitor who your children email and talk to online.
- Keep the computer in a neutral area where you can monitor internet activity.
Additional Resouces
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
http://www.ic3.gov
http://www.missingkids.com
http://www.netsmartz.org
http://www.staysafe.org
http://www.isafe.org/
http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/pp_li_il.html
http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/predators.aspx
http://www.ic3.gov
http://www.missingkids.com
http://www.netsmartz.org
http://www.staysafe.org
http://www.isafe.org/
http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/pp_li_il.html
http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/predators.aspx