Harm on the Net (FGCU) Randye Brindle

Most of us feel comfortable in our own homes, we feel safe and that no harm can touch us.  Most of us even feel safe when we are wondering around on the Internet too, we don’t think that there are people out there who are trying to get information about us and potentially harm us.  There are many ways in which people can get information about you and use it against you I’m going to look into online predators. 

Most of us have learned from a young age not to talk to strangers, and we all understand this and why we shouldn’t do so.  So why does it seem like a good idea to talk to strangers on the Internet.  One reason for this is because you feel that you are in control of the situation being that you are in your own home.  We don’t want to think that people that we meet online might not be who they say they are, and the scary truth is we just don’t know.  This is why predators use the Internet as a weapon to get children to tell them information.  Online these people don’t seem scary, or mean they come off as really nice and comforting.  They are there to listen to your problems and give you advice when in reality you really don’t know who you are talking to.  Once these predators have a sense of trust in their victims they then try to get more information such as where do you live, your full name, and if you would be willing to meet up in a private place.  The sad truth is many people do meet these people or give them their address and then they find out they aren’t who they say they are. 

According to Sensory PC 1 in 5 teenagers who use the Internet have received unwanted sexual soliciting emails.  This is a pretty shocking fact because if you think about a classroom of 30 children that means at least 6 of them have had this happen to them.  You have to believe that some of these kids will write back and it could turn into something horrible.  Sensory PC also reported that 75% of children are willing to give out information about themselves.  This is scary because once a predator knows information about you what is stopping them from harming you. 

One show that is really trying to bring knowledge about this situation is How to Catch a Predator.  This show is about police pretending to be children and meeting online predators.  Once they talk to the predators they agree to meet up, and the predators are surprised by the police.  Usually they are men who are awaiting the company of the children, in some cases they have alcohol and other gifts waiting for the kids, which is disturbing in itself.  Parents don’t want to think that they have to worry about their children when they are in their own home, they already worry about their children every time they leave the house.  Only about 25% of children tell a parent or other trusted adult when they are approach on the Internet.  I think this is because they either don’t think it is a big deal and they can handle it, another reason they don’t tell their parents may be because they are embarrassed or think that their Internet privileges may be taken away because of it.

At the end of the day you never really know who is typing on the other side of the computer.  They can say whatever they want, make up their appearance, their name, and their age.  Once you start engaging in a conversion with them you are giving up your safety and your power against them.  Even though you are in your own home and you want to feel safe, you may not always be.  Many times the police can detect who is on the other side of the computer but usually they don’t know it is a problem until it is clear their is a problem. 

This entry was posted on 2. November 2009 at 22:59 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.