Currently, many children unknowingly converse with online predators on a daily basis. Online predators try to educate themselves about the younger population. For instance, they listen to popular music playing on the radio; they add verbal slangs to their language and try to share “funny” jokes. The reality of a victim’s life is that he/she is made vulnerable even by chatting online. The main reason why online predators are doing what they’re doing is because the younger ones are supposedly easier to catch, and it’s a moderate struggle to take down the child’s guard.
When a child comes in contact with an online predator, it is crucial for the parent or guardian to be made aware of the situation as quickly as possible. The old saying “What’s done in the dark, will come to the light” is the perfect example because nobody knows what actually is going on between the prey and the predator. According to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (http://www.enough.org/inside.php?id=3K03RC4L00), it is proven that 664,865 online sex offenders are in the midst of meeting and becoming “something more” with a child. In a survey, about 16% of teenagers are willing to meet up with someone they met online, and 8% of them actually met up with someone they never met before.
Undoubtedly, this world is dangerous, and parents should be more concerned about what’s taking place online. Some possible ways to determine whether or not one’s child is making contact with a sexual predator is to be aware of the sites they visit and also talk about the dangers of having online “friends”.
My inspiration for this article was actually due to a movie that came out May of 2011 (Megan is Missing). The movie is about two teenage girls who are between the ages of thirteen and fourteen. They chat online with a particular older gentleman (a sexual predator), in the end, they both went missing.
It is a scary thing to allow freedom in a child’s life at times because you just never know what will happen and when it will happen. Parents and children are not aware about the prevention, or the consequences related to online sexual contact with a predator. That being said, there should be a reason why adults’ supervision is high-tech and sharp. In the sea of instant messaging and communication on the internet, predators are the sharks–intelligent, and perhaps all-too-ready to take advantage of an unsuspecting child. When in doubt, take action and be the one who prevents the damage from occurring.
It’s safer for children, teens, and adults to stay away from online interaction with strangers when they can. Although it is easy to fall for someone, make sure it’s someone who is in close contact with you and who you’ve met before. If you take the chance to get to know someone, try meeting them in person in a public place. After all, you’re better safe than sorry.
