Internet Safety for Kids

Staying Safe from Online Predators

Staying safe from predators

The internet is much more anonymous than the real world. People can hide their identity or even pretend to be someone they're not. Sometimes, this can present a real danger to children and teens who are online. Online predators may try to lure kids and teens into sexual conversations or even face-to-face meetings. Predators will sometimes send obscene material or request that the kids send pictures of themselves. Therefore, it's very important to teach your kids to be on their guard whenever they are online.

Teens are generally more at risk from predators. Since they are curious and want to be accepted, they may talk to a predator willingly, even if they know that it's dangerous. Sometimes, a teen may believe that they are in love with the person, making them more likely to agree to a face-to-face meeting.

NetSmartz.org has lots of information on internet safety for parents and kids. It was created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Go to NetSmartz.org to watch the video Ask Dr. Sharon: Compliant Victimization.

ThinkUKnow.co.uk is an educational website created by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. To learn more about the dangers of online predators, watch the following video from ThinkUKnow.