Video Professors MySpace and My Kids’ Safety Don’t Open the Door to Strangers. Who hasn’t said that to their children? Unfortunately, predators have found another way to enter our homes, and we never heard them knocking. They are sneaking into the lives of our children through our home computers. And the threat is real. MySpace or LieSpace? MySpace. It’s all the rage. If you don’t know what it is, chances are your kids do. MySpace is a social-networking site in which individuals create a homepage that serves as a personal billboard filled with their pictures, anecdotes and personal details. It is a creative outlet that has allowed young people to connect with others with similar tastes and interests. In a perfect world, it is an excellent way for young people to meet, exchange ideas, and find friendship. Unfortunately, child predators have also discovered MySpace and are exploiting it. With a single visit to MySpace, child stalkers can surmise if an individual could fall victim to their advances by studying their web profiles. Through MySpace web pages, pedophiles can contact young people directly. Predators also create their own MySpace billboard filled with bogus but appealing pictures and false information designed to elicit responses from young people. By creating false identities, including fake email addresses and fabricated personal details, they can lure innocent MySpace visitors into online relationships. The uncomfortable truth is that lying is easy. No one at MySpace is policing the site for false claims or fake identities. No web master is double-checking the validity of the information posted by every visitor. Are Predators a Real Problem?Predators are a very real and dangerous problem. MySpace offers many avenues of unabridged communication. Those with dark intentions can find potential victims through instant messaging, blogs, classified listings, and chatrooms. Many teens and preteens have a false sense of security when meeting people online. Pedophiles know that and exploit it. Most have years of experience appealing to unsuspecting kids who are simply looking for someone to talk to, relate to, or just vent to. Relationships are formed that eventually disintegrate into destructive, and often dangerous, situations. Many youngsters willingly disclose personal information, such as full names, addresses, ages, schools attended, even family income, making it very easy for predators to become stalkers or worse. Some young Internet users disclose personal information without even knowing it. Predators engage them in seemingly innocuous conversations to elicit personal information that can lead to unexpected and unwanted in-person encounters. The Parent Police Parents need to actively monitor their children and their computer use. It sounds invasive and it is. Unfortunately, child stalkers are intent on finding their next victims. Parents cannot afford to be passive protectors. One way to monitor online communication is to keep the family computer in a common room, such as the family room, den, or rec room. Knowing any member of the family could walk by and look over a shoulder at any time could prevent inappropriate online communication. Advise your child not to respond to emails that have an unfamiliar sender. The delete button is just a click away. Remind the child that he/she is a child. Predators have years of experience tricking young people, playing to their naivety and innate trust. Remind yourself that you are a parent. Sometimes being a parent doesn’t win any popularity contests. But realize that you would no more put your child in front of a loaded gun than place your child into a pedophile’s arms. If there is a problem…Contact MySpace about any abuses or inappropriate communications. If a predator actually appears on your doorstep or tries to initiate an in-person meeting with your child, contact the police. Dos and Don’t’sDO become computer savvy. It’s never too late to take your first computer lesson. If time is a concern, there are free online computer classes and free online computer tutorials available 24 hours a day. DO log onto the Internet to find out what is going on out there. If your children are online for school and recreation, it is imperative that you learn how to use the Internet. DO discuss the dangers of encountering online pedophiles, predators, and cyber stalkers with your children. DON’T shrug and think it won’t happen to your children. Predators are counting on your apathy and lack of concern. DON’T unplug the computer. The Internet is a valuable resource. By simply becoming aware of potential problems, you have taken the first step to protecting your children. | 