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The Internet is a
wonderful tool that everyone should learn to
use and enjoy. However, it is also a tool
used by on-line predators to take advantage
of people of all ages, especially children.
Please take into consideration these
startling statistics, provided by the
Crimes
Against Children Research Center, before allowing your children on the Internet:
 One in five U.S. teenagers, who regularly log on to the Internet, say they have received an unwanted sexual solicitation via the Web. Solicitations were defined as requests to engage in sexual activities or sexual talk, or to give personal sexual information.
25% of children have been exposed to unwanted pornographic material online.
Only 1/3 of households with Internet access are actively protecting their children with filtering or blocking software.
Approximately 25% of children, who encountered a sexual approach or solicitation, actually told a parent or adult.
77%
of the targets for online predators were age
14 or older. Another 22% were users ages 10
to 13.
Sadly, on-line predators rely on the trusting nature of children in general and seek every opportunity to exploit that very characteristic. On-line predators use various Internet mediums to interact with and take advantage of children. Their malicious attempts can range from seemingly harmless information gathering (even information regarding family finances and banking information) to sexual advances. Without proper communication between parent and child, along with parental control/supervision of that child’s computer usage, these on-line predators have a greater chance of
infiltrating your home. |
