Online Child Predators Use Tech to trick your children for malicious purposes
Today’s children and teenagers are some of the first generation growing up in a well-equipped internet world. From the day a child is born, they have complete access to the entire world through a growing number of digital platforms. Unfortunately, these digital platforms can be vulnerable to online threats.
Do you know that there is nothing more deceitful than an online predator spying on your activities through your child’s laptop screen? Before moving ahead, let’s understand.
Who is an online child predator?
An online predator is someone who comes into contact with children and teenagers online for malicious purposes. And, the Internet is the only medium to facilitate and start a conversation with children and potentially harm them.
How does a predator start a conversation?
An online child predator targets a child in public chat, on a social media platform, or during online gaming. The predator may send a direct message, friend request, or comment on any post on social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. To win the child’s trust, predators will lie about their age and adopt an appearance that looks older than the victim.
Predators then take the conversation a step forward by asking personal questions of the child. This is often in a more secret app where conversations get deleted automatically such as Snapchat. They select these secret apps to test a child’s boundaries. They tend to ask more personal questions about the relationships that a child has – with friends, parents, teachers, or other outsiders. And then use the same information against them by manipulating the child emotionally.
Conversations are a surreal mix of facts and fantasies. From time to time, the predator offers small tokens of love such as appreciation, and praise, to win the child’s complete trust. Over time, the predator offers small gifts to the child while playing a game online, such as the end number of turns or something that the child can’t obtain with the resources available to them.
How the conversation proceeds?
The predator’s main goal is to win trust and establish a secret relationship with the child, especially one the child hides from his parents. Once the boundaries are established, their bond strengthens with time, and the child protects the unknown person instead of saving themselves. The innocent nature of the child makes them fall victim to mind games planned by fake people.
The predator will also ask for personal images of the victim, such as images from partially clothed to fully naked.
“Once a child shares explicit images or videos, the predator gains complete control over the child. Moreover, the predator threatens to share the images with their parents or friends to encourage them to share more information!
How to protect your youngster from online stalkers?
The Internet has granted predators open access to children and their personal lives.
As a parent, would you be comfortable with your child playing badminton with a 36-year-old stranger? Obviously not, but do you know what your youngster plays with adults they don’t know in the online digital world daily?
It’s time to start a conversation with your child about online safety. Please check out the tips and questions you need to ask your children. We also encourage you to foster open communication with your child about internet usage.
Things parents can do
- Always pay close attention to your children’s almirah and find out if there is anything you didn’t give such as a mobile phone, a greeting card, or any newly purchased clothes.
- Ask yourself if your child is secretive about online activities.
- Go through their chats and friends list on social media
- Monitor your child’s internet activities. Check out the apps they use
- Talk to your child about what they are sharing online. Make them understand how their shared information can be used by a third person for malicious purposes.
- Talk to your child about how to end a conversation with a stranger who’s asking for personal information such as address or phone number.
What words or sentences could predators use?
We share some of the words or sentences a stalker might use. Have a look and warn your children about it.
- Can we talk privately on a different app?
- Are you looking for a job? You could be, and I can help you achieve it!
- Do your parents read the conversation or check your phones?
- You seem upset! If there’s anything, you can tell. I promise I will not share it with anyone!
- Can we meet personally?
The above are some common words or sentences an unknown person uses to gain children’s interest.
Questions to ask your children if you find anything suspicious?
After coming across anything suspicious, you may be angry with your children. However, always remember that your child is scared and needs your support and guidance.
So, take a deep breath and ask them the following questions such as:
- Do you remember when all this started?
- Do you chat with an unknown person? Did you save any of them and know the numbers?
- Have you told anyone about these secret conversations?
- Do you remember if you shared personal information such as your name, age, address, school name, or your favorite activities?
- Have you sent any personal pictures?
It might happen that your child doesn’t know the answers to the above questions and that’s OK!
Last but not least! What to do if your child is a victim?
- Take the entire matter to the police as they need to be involved to avoid any kind of casualties in the future.
- Save your child’s conversation with the stranger.
- Make your child block the predator
- Report that unknown person.
- Educate your child as much as you can about online safety and online dangers that pose a serious threat in the digital landscape.
To Conclude,
Stay informed, stay vigilant, and protect your children from potential predators. After all, we all have a significant role in preventing predators from tricking our children for malicious purposes!
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in the blog are of the blogger and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views written on the website.
