Are Parents Really Aware of What Internet Predators Are?
As the internet and social media have made our lives easier, it has also become an easy way for child predators to get in touch with kids. Parents are aware that there are many predators on the internet, but are unaware of how cyber-predators look for kids ages from elementary school to high school. Predators can come in diverse forms and have different intentions than other predators. Predators at the least can look for vulnerable children to create online sexual relations with. Other predators try to meet face-to-face with children they find online. The worst cyber-predator is one that lurks for children to become a victim of human trafficking. However, the internet isn’t all …show more content…
The anonymity of online relationships can increase intimate self-disclosure,” (Fleming and Rickwood). Some people feel that when they communicate over the internet, they are more of their real selves than they are in person. People of all ages feel that the internet has helped improve existing friendships and create new friendships. This can help people with their depression and loneliness because they are able to connect with others and their own friends more so than face-to-face where it is harder to express yourself. It is very healthy for children and teens to grow and expand their relationships and the internet and social media has helped make that possible. “In an American study of 130 children ages 11 to 13 years, participants’ IM (instant message) partners were usually friends from school. However, 12% of IM partners in this study had been met online.” (Fleming and Rickwood) This proves that most of those children do not talk to people they do not personally know on the internet. There is a handful of kids that are very careful and responsible for what they are doing on the internet and who they are talking to. Parents should have a trust for their kids for them to be responsible on their own and not needing a parent to take on all of their chances to learn their own
As the internet and social media have made our lives easier, it has also become an easy way for child predators to get in touch with kids. Parents are aware that there are many predators on the internet, but are unaware of how cyber-predators look for kids ages from elementary school to high school. Predators can come in diverse forms and have different intentions than other predators. Predators at the least can look for vulnerable children to create online sexual relations with. Other predators try to meet face-to-face with children they find online. The worst cyber-predator is one that lurks for children to become a victim of human trafficking. However, the internet isn’t all …show more content…
The anonymity of online relationships can increase intimate self-disclosure,” (Fleming and Rickwood). Some people feel that when they communicate over the internet, they are more of their real selves than they are in person. People of all ages feel that the internet has helped improve existing friendships and create new friendships. This can help people with their depression and loneliness because they are able to connect with others and their own friends more so than face-to-face where it is harder to express yourself. It is very healthy for children and teens to grow and expand their relationships and the internet and social media has helped make that possible. “In an American study of 130 children ages 11 to 13 years, participants’ IM (instant message) partners were usually friends from school. However, 12% of IM partners in this study had been met online.” (Fleming and Rickwood) This proves that most of those children do not talk to people they do not personally know on the internet. There is a handful of kids that are very careful and responsible for what they are doing on the internet and who they are talking to. Parents should have a trust for their kids for them to be responsible on their own and not needing a parent to take on all of their chances to learn their own