Online Predators

Being online can open the door to a whole new world of opportunities for learning, fact-gathering, and social networking. It expands our horizons and helps us to learn about different cultures and ways of life. However, it can also be dangerous on the information highway. There are people out there whose intent is to cause harm and sexually exploit you.

People may befriend you and seem kind, affectionate, and caring; however, their goal is to trick you into trusting them.

In order to protect yourself against this type of person remember to:

• Never arrange a face to face meeting with someone you met on-line.
• Never upload or post pictures of yourself on the Internet or on an online service where people you do not personally know will have access to them
• Never give out identifying information such as your name, home address, school name or telephone number
• Never download pictures from an unknown source or that are sent from people who you do not personally know
• Never respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing
• Realize that things you are told on-line by people you do not personally know may or may not be true

According to a recent study:

• 40% of the teenage girls surveyed said they had experienced sexual advances online
• 25% of the girls said they had met someone in person after first meeting them on the Web
• 55% of adolescent Internet users have or are currently using social networking web sites