Keeping Your Cyberspace Safe
You may think adults sound crazy for being so afraid for you to meet people on the Internet, but online predators are real and they know all the tricks to get your attention and gain your trust. Marje Monroe, a clinical social worker with expertise on internet usage and sexual harassment, offered Teen Voices' readers advice on how to stay ahead of the predators.
Teen Voices: What are online predators and how do they work?
Marje Monroe: Online predators are people who are using the web to gather personal information on others in order to harass them online or with the hope of luring them to meet offline. It is very important for children–and teens especially–to guard their privacy.
TV:What signs should teens be aware of during Internet use?
Marje: It is hard to read signs. Research shows that teens [may] believe what is written to them, even though they themselves [may] lie online. It is crucial to teach teens to be cautious and careful, to be critical and question who they are communicating with.
TV:What are the newest or most popular ways that enable online predators?
Marje: MySpace and Instant Messenger are tools that teens and children love and predators can use to get access to the kids' world.
TV: What type of people are most at risk? Is there a specific age group that is a common target?
Marje: As with any risk factor, children and teens that have experienced issues such as abuse, divorce, or depression may be more vulnerable. But on some level, all children and teens are at risk.
TV: What kind of information can teens safely post about themselves online and what should be left private?
Marje: MySpace is filled with revealing pictures and stories that teens post about themselves. Online diaries or blogs are also filled with personal and revealing stories. What teens often don't understand is that predators are putting together a picture from lots of different sites and venues. For example, you may tell someone you live in New York, but your best friend might post to your site saying you really live in Chicago.
TV: What can teens do if they feel like they have been a victim?
Marje: Tell an adult immediately!
TV:What do you want teens to know about online predators or web safety?
Marje: [People sometimes] stay in harassing conversations hoping to "change the mind" of the other person. Be critical, be smart. Talk to adults. Be very careful in what you post online. If you start to feel that the conversation is inappropriate, get out of it immediately.
TV: What does the law do to protect teens from online predators? Is this a difficult crime to track?
Marje: There is very little the law can do about online crimes, but police can act in cases of harassment or threats. Authorities are just beginning to understand and create laws around it. Yes, it is a difficult crime to track; however, some predators are very easy to lure and trap if police pose as naive teens.
|
 |
 |
|
Are you using MySpace or other social networking sites? How do you stay safe when you are meeting people online? Have you had any problems?
 |
|
|
|
Main Page
Page 1 2 3 4 5 |
