Online predators are a big danger to your child on the Internet today. If and when your child is contacted by a predator should be a major concern to you. An online predator is an Internet user who exploits vulnerable people for sexual purposes. Teenagers and young children are usually the targets for the predator, because they are more willing to give out personal information and talk with strangers.
Warnings for Your Children about Online Predators
If your child is on the Internet often, they might eventually be approached by an online predator. Online predators realize a lot of parents don’t pay any attention to where their child goes online.
Warn your child of this danger and make sure they understand what to do if this happens to them.
Stress to your child that most people they encounter on the Internet are strangers and the rules they use in the real world when they meet a stranger should be the same rules used when they encounter someone on the Internet.
Make sure your child knows that what they are told online is not always the truth. Your child should never respond to messages that are obscene, harassing, or suggestive. Tell your child to never upload pictures of themselves online to someone they don’t know personally, and to never download pictures from an unknown source. Make sure your child never arranges a personal meeting with someone they met online, and never gives out any personal information to a stranger. Encourage your child to let you know immediately if they receive any inappropriate messages.
Tactics Predators Use Online
Once the online predator makes contact with your child, they will make themselves seem appealing and interesting. Then the predator will begin the grooming process, which involves building trust with your child.
The predator will learn from your child their likes and dislikes and then begin discussing these subjects with your child as if they have similar tastes.
The predator might offer your child a gift or talk about an item they own that your child has mentioned wanting such as a swimming pool. This will give the predator another way to communicate with your child.
After a while, the predator will gain your child’s trust and will ask your child for more private communication. The predator will show interest in everything your child participates in, and they will always understand and agree with everything your child says.
The predator will slowly introduce sexual content into the conversation between them and your child once the trust is there. Once your child has seen and heard this inappropriate material over and over, they will begin to think this kind of behavior is normal.
Once the predator has gained your child’s complete trust, they will discourage your child from including other people. Because of this, your child might withdraw from you and their friends.
Once your child realizes the danger they are in and tries to withdraw from this relationship, the predator might become angry and resort to threats. Your child might be afraid to come to you, but if you have taken the time to discuss this danger with them, it will make talking to you about their problem much easier.
How Predators Get Personal Information from Children
Online predators can find out anything they want to about your child just by having their age, gender, and zip code.
An online predator can provoke your child into exchanging personal information such as their address or phone number once they have your child’s trust. If your child refuses to give out their phone number, the predator will ask your child to call them and many times the predator will get your child’s phone number from caller id.
Your child might think they are giving their personal information to another child, but the other child is really a predator disguising their voice.
Remind your child to be very cautious and never give out personal information unless they let you check it out first. Online predators will usually spend much time studying and practicing tactics to find ways to lure children. They keep seeking until they find a vulnerable child.
Don’t let your child become vulnerable. Arm them with the information they need to recognize and avoid contact with such persons online. You might save their innocence or even their life!