Internet Safety -- Protect Your Kids from Online Predators

Written by: Jaclyn Popola

When Chris Hansen, lead investigator on the Dateline NBC series "To Catch a Predator", interviewed a group of 11-13 year olds at a local junior high, he asked how many of them had been approached online by someone in a sexual way that made them feel uncomfortable. Nearly all the kids raised their hands. "And how many of you told your parents about it?" The answer was none. When asked why not, they unanimous response was that they were afraid their parents would take their computers away or cut off their Internet access if they did.

Chris Hansen stresses that you cannot kill the messenger. Kids will always take the path of least resistance. If you take away their computer or Internet privileges, they will go to the library or to a friend's house and log on there. What parents need is to have open, honest conversations with their children about the dangers online. "They need to explain it in age-appropriate terms and not be afraid to share with them a scary story or two." According to his book "To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home", here is one way to start a discussion:

"You know not everyone on the Internet is who they say they are. There are adults who use the Internet to trick people into doing all sorts of things. Some try to use their computers to steal money. Some try to take advantage of children, try to trick them into doing things they shouldn't do. If a strange man were walking down the street, you wouldn't call out to him and invite him into our house. You don't know anything about him or what he might do once he's inside. It's the same reason you shouldn't talk to anyone you don't know online. It's the same thing as inviting that stranger into our home."

Luckily, there is no magical way a predator can come through the phone lines and enter your home. The only way he can obtain your child's personal information is if your child gives it out. If your son or daughter wants to join a social networking site like MySpace, advise them of the following: Don't chat with people you don't already know in person, don't post cell phone numbers, home address, or any other personal information about your family, and if someone tries to contact you saying they were referred to you by a mutual friend, don't accept the message. If your child responds, "Mom, Dad, I'm not stupid," one response could be, "I know you're not stupid. I wouldn't let you have access to the Internet if I thought you were." The important thing is to keep the dialogue going.