INTERNET

With the Internet exploding at a geometric rate, parents are trying to catch up with their computer literate kids. As an uncontrolled information highway, crimes of all types proliferate on the internet . The internet has been used to proliferate all types of pornography, provide terrorist with information, used as an information base for stalking victims, used to maliciously hack web sites and a new source of theft. I hope the information contained here can assist those trying to understand the dangers of the internet while learning what a powerful tool it has become.

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Keeping Kids Safe - The Danger Signs

The law enforcement community has begun to concentrate on the victimization of children on the internet. The internet offers an open door to your house that is often unmonitored. Is your child at  risk ? Below are some signs that your child may be a victim of the internet.

• Does your child spend large amounts of time on the internet, especially at night? Although they may be accomplishing homework or utilizing the internet properly, many kids spend this time in chat rooms where they are cleverly nurtured and lured by adult criminals.
• Is there pornography on the computer? It is not uncommon for children as they grow to seek out this information but it is also common for adult offenders to send this sort of information to children to entice them and justify their victimization.
• Does your child receive phone calls from men you don't know or long distance numbers you don't recognize? The majority of predators on the internet are adult males and will often call the child at home that they met on the internet in a chat room.
• Does your child receive gifts or mail from people you don't know? As part of seducing children on the internet this is a common ploy to gain their trust and affection.
• Does your child change the screen suddenly or turn off the computer when you enter the room? This may not be anything as most teenagers do like their parents seeing their conversations with other kids in chat rooms. However, it can be one more sign that your child is engaging in improper activities.
• Is your child becoming more withdrawn? This is one of the final stages an adult predator will use in order to drive a wedge between the child and the parent. In order to help insure that they won't be caught, the predator must be convinced that the child will keep their activities a secret.  

Protecting Your Child

• If you believe that your child is in imminent danger or is sexually involved with an adult, contact your a law enforcement agency immediately.
• Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions. Tell them about your concerns, the dangers of the internet, and ask them to show you how they spend their their time on the internet.
• Review what is on the computer or around it. Many kids will print out letters form adult predators, store them on disks or even save them in "my documents". If your unfamiliar with computers, ask a friend to assist you.
• Phone Use - Watch your phone bill closely for long distance calls you don't recognize. Also consider the use of caller ID to monitor incoming calls and caller ID block which will block incoming calls form people who are attempting to hide their phone number.

Against The Law

If you discover any of the following situations notify a law enforcement agency:

• If you or anyone in your house has been sent child pornography
• If someone has sexually solicited your child and knows that they are under 18
• If your child is under 18 and has been sent sexually explicit images from someone that knows that they are under 18

Preventative Measures

• Keep the computer with internet access somewhere out in the open where you can freely walk by and glance at the activity
• Stay interested in your children's activities on the computer and ask them to show you how they utilize the computer and let them "teach" you.
• Explain to your children that the internet and especially chat rooms can be used to hurt them. Explain to them how many adult predators will pretend to be kids their own age to hurt them. Most Importantly - Never Give Out Personal Information to anyone. Predators will use school names, phone numbers, etc. to track their victims.
• If your children are younger consider using child safe web sites, parental controls or filtering software that will assist you in controlling any potential problems.

TO REPORT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY