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Health & Fitness

Online Predator in Sudbury's Back Yard!

The Sudbury news story (Metrowest), about an online predator engaging a teen is a strong reminder and a wake up call that the online world has radically changed the lives of our children and how we parent.  Unfortunately, many parents still think incidents like this can not happen to their kids “in their backyard”.  This predator from Kansas engaged with a teen right here in Sudbury, in my backyard and your back yard.  Today, your child’s online world is not only in their backyard but extends around the world.

The alarming truth is that online predators are working hard everyday to engage children online.  According to the FBI it is believed that there are half a million pedophiles are online daily.


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  • Facebook – Predators set up phony profiles to lure children in and friend unsuspecting kids. “70 percent of youngsters will accept Facebook “friend” requests regardless of whether they know the requester.” Parents need to know who their child’s friends are on Facebook and teach their children to only friend people they know in real life.
  • Online games – Once a video game is connected to the internet your child becomes vulnerable to the many predators from around the world that are searching to form a relationship with a child.  They will choose games that are popular with the age group they are seeking and pose as other kids to build a friendship and emotionally manipulate their victim. Parents need to unplug the headset when kids are playing a game and listen to what’s going on.
  • Chat rooms – Sexual predators will also pose as kids in chat rooms. Once they gain a child’s trust, they may try setting up a meeting.  Sites like Omegle actually invite kids to talk to strangers.  Teaching your child not to talk to strangers is one of the first lessons in life that a parent gives their child. There are hundreds of these sites.  Kids are naturally curious and many kids visit them thinking it’s no big deal. Kids should not be on these sites period.  They are disturbing and ripe with nudity and explicit disgusting sexual behavior in addition to being havens for predators.

The Internet contains many new and emerging threats.  The key to solving this problem is for parents to understand the risks and challenges children face online and become involved in their child’s online world. Parents need to know who their kids are engaging with by monitoring their child’s computer activity (with their knowledge) so that they can teach safe, responsible appropriate behavior.

Locking the doors of our homes is easy.  Guarding the doors and ways that predators can engage with children in cyberspace is not.  Staying involved, monitoring kids online and teaching them about the risks offers the best way to keep our kids safe online.

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