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Internet Safety


~Bonnie~

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http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/ser...&PageId=207

Internet-Related Safety Tips for Teens

1. Don’t give out personal information about yourself, your family situation, your school, your telephone number, or your address.

2. If you become aware of the sharing, use, or viewing of child pornography online, immediately report this to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

3. When in chatrooms remember that not everyone may be who they say they are. For example a person who says "she" is a 14-year-old girl from New York may really be a 42-year-old man from California.1

4. If someone harasses you online, says anything inappropriate, or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, contact your Internet service provider.

5. Know that there are rules many Internet Service Providers (ISP) have about online behavior. If you disobey an ISP's rules, your ISP may penalize you by disabling your account, and sometimes every account in a household, either temporarily or permanently.

6. Consider volunteering at your local library, school, or Boys & Girls Club to help younger children online. Many schools and nonprofit organizations are in need of people to help set up their computers and Internet capabilities.

7. A friend you meet online may not be the best person to talk to if you are having problems at home, with your friends, or at school - remember the teenage "girl" from New York in Tip number three? If you can't find an adult in your school, church, club, or neighborhood to talk to, Covenant House is a good place to call at 1-800-999-9999. The people there provide counseling to kids, refer them to local shelters, help them with law enforcement, and can serve as mediators by calling their parents.

8. If you are thinking about running away, a friend from online (remember the 14-year-old girl) may not be the best person to talk to. If there is no adult in your community you can find to talk to, call the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-621-4000. Although some of your online friends may seem to really listen to you, the Switchboard will be able to give you honest, useful answers to some of your questions about what to do when you are depressed, abused, or thinking about running away.2

1Adapted from Teen Safety on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid. Copyright© respectively 1994 and 1998 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). All rights reserved.

2Adapted from Children Online: The ABCs for Parenting: When Is Your Child Ready by The Children's Partnership. Reprinted with permission of The Children's Partnership. http://www.childrenspartnership.org

Another good resource site:

http://www.cybertipline.com/

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Here's another one

if any of you ladies are planing on meeting some guy you've met over the net

you can call me and I'll tell you if it's safe to meet that poerson or not nothing more nothing less.

It's a freebie don't worry about that

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What a great thread, Bonnie.

I'm so sick of hearing that bad things happen to people becuase of people they meet or talk to on the internet.

Here's another link that someone sent me a while ago.

This is meant to monitor your children's internet activity.

I really think that even the teenagers out there should install it so if anything bad does happen or looks like it may , they have a record of it.

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These are great tips, but there's no sense in being too over-paranoid about everything to do with the internet.

Edit: Also I wouldn't be able to install that monitoring program on here because I'm using a Linux based Operating System....yes, I'm a nerd.

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You really think that there's no reason for the kids on this website to be over-paranoid?

I think it's very, very important that they keep an eye out for the warning signs.

I agree, if you think there's something strange with a person you met on the internet you should definitely be extremely careful about what you say/do. I'm just saying that there are situations where it can be all right to share a little personal info, like if you've been talking to someone for years on the internet...I think it would be all right to give out a little private information. But I agree also that kids under 16 should be more diligent in looking out for predators.

Myself, I'm 17, should I be looking out for sexual predators?

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http://www.netsmartz.org/news/OnlineMolesters.htm

Online Child Molesters

by Jen Stadler

The wonderful new technologies associated with the Internet can also introduce new dangers for children. Accessing the Internet creates a link with millions of people and is like posting information in any public place. Unfortunately there are people who use the Internet for selfish purposes or to do illegal and malicious things.

Dangerous people existed long before the advent of online technology; however, the Internet can provide many advantages for individuals who are interested in sexually exploiting children. The Internet provides instant access to potential child victims worldwide. Chatrooms, instant-messaging programs, e-mail, web sites, and other file-sharing services can be used to build a relationship with a potential victim, prior to attempting to engage the child in physical contact. The Internet allows predators to disguise their identity — they can pretend to be another child. Also the Internet can be used to identify and track down home-contact information of victims.1

Saul Dos Reis, David Fuller, Beth Loschin, Joel Rensberger, Michael Shipman, Scott Tyree, and James Warren all have something in common. They are all alleged child molesters who used the Internet to meet their victims. Why are some people child molesters? The short answer is that no one really knows. The more complicated answer is that there may be any number of precipitating factors.

Some child molesters are pedophiles. A pedophile is a person who has a sexual preference for prepubescent children and fantasies about having sex with them. But if he or she does not act on these fantasies, then he or she is not a child molester. To complicate matters, not all child molesters are pedophiles. People who prefer to have sex with adults may force themselves on a child. Reasons for this may include simple availability, opportunity, curiosity, or a desire to hurt a loved one of the molested child. Some adults may feel more in control with a child than with someone their own age. This power ratio felt with a young person might make them feel more secure.2

Some argue that teenagers should not be seen as children, especially if they have made the choice to meet someone for sex. Legal definitions of who is considered a child or minor vary from state-to-state and even statute-to-statute when dealing with adolescent victims. Sixteen year olds may be able to consent to have sex with the man down the street, but not with their father or schoolteacher.3

It is important to note that many older child victims may have initiated the contact with the adult predator. "It is the myth of the typical child victim as a completely innocent young girl walking down the street minding her own business.. Child victims can be boys as well as girls, and older as well as younger," said Ken Lanning, retired Supervisory Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).4

Christina Long allegedly published a racy web site, used almost a dozen provocative screennames and routinely had sex with partners she met in various chatrooms. Christina was also the 13-year-old captain of her school cheerleading squad and an altar girl. The principal of her Catholic school in the small New England town where she lived described her as a "sweet girl" who was very well-mannered. Christina was found strangled in a remote ravine in New York state, three days after she disappeared. Saul Dos Reis, 25, confessed to the killing and led police to the body.5

"Sympathy for victims is inversely proportional to their age and sexual development," said Ken Lanning. Teenagers, especially those who are sexually promiscuous, may not be seen in the same angelic light as younger children.6 But rape is rape, and the rape of children between the ages of 13 and 17 can rob them of their innocence and trust for a lifetime. This of course only pertains to the children who survive.

In Chamblee, Georgia, a 40-year-old car dealer was charged with raping a 13-year-old girl he befriended during online chat sessions. Police say Michael Shipman, claiming to be 17, initiated a chat friendship with the girl and got her address. Investigators say that Shipman posed as a repairman, attacked her in her home twice, and raped her during the second attack.7

Sexual predators frequent various chatrooms looking for children. These predators target likely victims, make contact, and work to develop friendship, emotional reliance, and interest in sexual topics. He or she may initiate offline sexual relations quickly or spend months "grooming" the child towards a sexual relationship. Sexual predators may use material goods, such as compact discs and games, to attract children offline. There have been cases in which predators have sent children bus tickets or money to cover the cost of travel or traveled to meet children.8

A 13-year-old girl in Minneapolis, Minnesota, allegedly met Joel Rensberger in a chatroom. After a telephone conversation, she agreed to meet him, believing that he was 18. The eighth grader told police that Rensberger took her to a motel. Once they got there she said he gave her a video game to play and some wine coolers to drink. Rensberger then allegedly raped the 13-year-old while she struggled to push him away and told him to stop. After the assault, she says they left the hotel and Rensberger drove her home.9

Thirteen-year-old Kacie Rene Woody allegedly met David Fuller in a chatroom on the Internet. The bodies of Kacie and Fuller were found shot to death in a van at a storage facility in Arkansas. Inside Kacie's home, police found evidence that she fought for her life including broken eyeglasses, a chair propped against a door, and all of her shoes indicating that she left the house without wearing any. Authorities said that Fuller struck up an Internet relationship with Kacie and might have tricked her into believing that he was a teenager.10

The natural characteristics of children may facilitate victimization. Children of all ages have a lack of emotional maturity that can make them more susceptible to manipulation or intimidation. They also have a strong desire for attention, validation, and affection along with a lack of caution or self-preservation. Children are taught to obey adult requests and demands and may be less likely to know when it isn't appropriate to do so. In addition children are naturally curious about sex and other "forbidden" topics. It is important to note that children also may be hesitant to tell a trusted adult if they are approached in an inappropriate way, because of a feeling of embarrassment or the stigma of being a "tattletale."11

Scott Tyree is described as a long-haired computer geek who likes science fiction and computer games. But on New Year's Day 2002, Tyree allegedly picked up a 13-year-old girl from her home in Pennsylvania and drove her to Virginia. At first investigators didn't know what they were up against since the girl disappeared from her home without a coat or money at about 6 P.M. during dinner. They were, however, able to track down Tyree through his Internet communications and found the girl three days later chained to the bed in Tyree's townhome.12

James Warren, 41, and Beth Loschin, 46, allegedly held a 15-year-old girl for a week in their home in New York, where they repeatedly assaulted her sexually and beat her. The young girl was also brought to the home of a third alleged abuser who threatened to kill her if she did not follow orders. Warren and Loschin convinced the high school sophomore to meet them at the outlet mall where she worked. The girl originally met Loschin and Warren in an online chatroom where the couple offered to help the girl run away from home.13

Sexual predators target children online while maintaining relative anonymity. The nature of online interaction facilitates deception about the predator's identity, age, and intentions. Millions of children online form a large pool from which predators can select victims.14

Remember to approach the new Internet technologies with safety in mind. Communicate with your children about the dangers of giving out personal information and meeting in person with people first met online. Visit www.NetSmartz.org for more information on Internet safety.

1Debbie Mahoney and Nancy Faulkner. Brief Overview of Pedophiles on the Web. Washington, DC: The Internet Online Summit: Focus on Children. December 1, 1997, http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/pedoweb.htm.

2Kenneth V. Lanning. Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis. Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. September 2001, page 19.

3Ibid.

4Ibid, page 12.

5"Girl, 13, Murdered by Man from Internet Chatroom." Ananova. January 22, 2003, http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_592454.html.

6Kenneth V. Lanning. Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis. Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. September 2001, page 19.

7"Officials focus on Internet use in sex crimes." CNN Interactive. October 8, 1997, http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9710/08/Internet.molesters/.

8Internet Safety. Atlanta, Georgia: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2001, page 21.

9"13-Year-Old Rape Victim Met Attacker Online." WCCO.com. January 9, 2003, http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_009180608.html.

10"Teen Murdered by Man She Met in Chatroom." NetSmartz Workshop. January 22, 2003, http://www.NetSmartz.org/PARENTS/news/Dec02-02.htm.

11Internet Safety. Atlanta, Georgia: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2001, page 21.

12"Missing teen found safe but tied up in Virginia townhouse." Post-Gazette.com. January 5, 2002, http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20...05missingp1.asp.

13"Teen's Horrific Ordeal." abcNews.com. August 14, 2002, http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNew...lave010814.html.

14Internet Safety. Atlanta, Georgia: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2001, page 21.

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As a teenager, I'd say it is very important to be careful on the internet. You never know who you are talking too.

Very very true lzfan! Thanks to Bonnie and Manderly for posting those links and starting this thread. The internet is a great place to bring people together but one must exercise a lot of caution. People can be anyone they choose and they have the safety of not being face to face. Look at how many members here are banned and keep returning pretending to be someone else :(

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Very very true lzfan! Thanks to Bonnie and Manderly for posting those links and starting this thread. The internet is a great place to bring people together but one must exercise a lot of caution. People can be anyone they choose and they have the safety of not being face to face. Look at how many members here are banned and keep returning pretending to be someone else :(

Which is exactly the reason for the discussion.

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Social Darwinism - if people are stupid enough to put themselves in that situation then maybe they needed to learn a lesson anyway.

There is some truth in what you say... BUT it's often not a matter of 'stupidity'.

Some folks with less 'life experience' than others can be more easily taken in... and can find themselves in over their heads and not know how to get out of it... especially if 'getting out' of a situation might involve parents, etc. or would become publicly embarassing or whatever. Toss all that in with a bit of the "it can't/won't happen to me" that a lot (or most) teenagers have... (I know I was like that as a teenager... and yeah, I learned some hard lessons that way).

It's easier to avoid being 'stupid' if one has some guidelines or suggestions on how to do that.

Thanks Bonnie. It's been quite a while since anyone has posted one of those types of things.

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I think that you should talk to poeple on the net, you know to see if you can make friends, you can give out info that you WANT others to see but if it does get out of hand then yes you do need to be carefull.

plus it does get abit boring if you keep hearing this stuff, i mean i know that it is important and everything but it does get boring if you do hear it alot and sometimes you do get parents which are over protective like my dad he would HATE the idea of me being on this site coz i could talk to anyone and the info they give about them semves could not be true.

TIP: if someone that you met on the net asked to meet up with you then 1)agree (if you want to) and go with someone else or 2) if your not sure then don't agree.

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These are great tips, but there's no sense in being too over-paranoid about everything to do with the internet.

According to recent statistics, at any given time, there are more than 1 million Internet Pedophiles online

25% of children have been exposed to unwanted pornographic material online. According to research, only approx. 25% of children who encountered a sexual approach/ solicitation told a parent or adult.

75% of children are willing to share personal information online about themselves and their family in exchange for goods.

77% of the targets for online predators were age 14 or older. Another 22% are users ages 10 to 13.

When your child enters a chat room, they have a 100% chance of engaging in a conversation with a pedophile who is posing as a child.

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plus it does get abit boring if you keep hearing this stuff, i mean i know that it is important and everything but it does get boring if you do hear it alot and sometimes you do get parents which are over protective like my dad he would HATE the idea of me being on this site coz i could talk to anyone and the info they give about them semves could not be true.

Yes, of course it gets a bit boring, but seriously, there is waaayyy too much of this kind of stuff happening on the internet. Period.

It is something that even the mighty mods on www.ledzeppelin.com can't control when we have people who are masters at doing this type of sinister activity on the internet. Because of the "instoppable power" these people have, I have to agree that keeping the kids informed is very, very important.

I'd hate to hear of a child harmed because of a situation like that on this board.

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I don't think enough pre-teens and teenagers know about internet safety and what they should and should not do online. When we finally got a computer with internet waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2001, my sister was 13 and my dad would not let her on in the internet unless she was doing homework and he had to be in the room. It wasn't her he didn't trust, it was everyone else. I think some parents expect their kids to just figure it out or learn about it in school, when in actuality that's something THEY should be doing.

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And the bottom line is this...there is NO shortage of creeps out there. The internet has given pedophiles unparalleled access to kids that they didn't have 15 years ago. I mean, look at any of those "Dateline: To Catch a Predator" shows. You throw out the bait, and creeps come from literally miles around (from hours away is more like it). It's like fish in a barrel, you could catch as many as you can handle. You want to catch 50 in a day, you could...100? No doubt. There is NO END to how many weirdos are out there. And they're incurable, they're driven against all better judgment, and won't stop, EVER. These guys will drive for 5 hours to meet who they think is an underage kid, get caught, and say "I knew it was a setup", yet they came anyway. The urge is too powerful, and can't be curbed.

There simply can't be enough awareness, because these dudes are out there, and it's only going to get worse.

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I think people are spending too much of their 'lives' on the internet and not enough in the real world....Unless something drastic happens I can never see the internet taking on a very meaningful place in inter-personal relationships...look at how people generally interact on a very aggressive, immature way across many different places on the internet...

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I think people are spending too much of their 'lives' on the internet and not enough in the real world....Unless something drastic happens I can never see the internet taking on a very meaningful place in inter-personal relationships...look at how people generally interact on a very aggressive, immature way across many different places on the internet...

I guess they could interact on a very aggressive, immature way in real life instead; not that it would be much of an improvement.

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