Online Predators: What Else Can be Done to Stop Them?

Online predators have become so brazen that only five percent of these vile offenders conceal the fact that they are adults from their victims. In fact almost 80% of them are very explicit about their intentions. Some studies have revealed that up to 73% of the child victims go and meet their offender on multiple occasions.

Why are teens so willing to meet strangers they meet online? 16% percent of teens openly admit considering doing just that. While only 4% are distressed over sexual solicitations and as a result very afraid. This is a disturbing trend when you realize that by age 14 a whopping 77% of all kids online have been solicited by an online predator!

The worst part is that only 25% percent of the 77% tell their parents about the incident or incidents. In fact 38% of high school students hide at least a portion of their online activity from their parents.

So with one out every three child is being exposed to sexual material and one out of every 11 being directly harassed what should parents do? Even with the heightened focus on this heinous crime the results have been far from keeping our children safe. Some researchers estimate that 1 out of every 453 United States males is a child predator!

Most of the recent success has come as a result of a concerted effort from law enforcement and a large amount of concerned citizens volunteering their time and resources. Much of the civilian help has come with a price though. Aside from personal sacrifice many of these people have had their children scarred with a lifetime of psychological struggle as a result of being victimized by a child predator. However much of the effort to stop this plague is by trying to track down these disgusting criminals.

Why finding these perpetrators is of paramount importance we need to give equal if not more attention to our children. For one we need to do the "unthinkable", actually be a parent. We live in a world where certain honorable principles have been compromised and distorted. Independance and privacy are privileges in life that children earn over time and education. It should be proven beyond a doubt that our children can handle increased independance and / or privacy. A loving parent and child will be able to discuss everything and anything together. Including what is appropriate to put and/or do online. If your child can't share their websites with you that should tell you something. Honestly the only things you kept from your parents when you were young were the bad things you didn't want them to know. Your kid is no different. If your child still insists this is an invasion of privacy then maybe your child should not use the computer at all. It is your house. And probably your computer.

It also may be as simple as insisting your child only answers email from strangers when you are present, if at all. Again they are children. Even in the late teens what could be so important or urgent that they can't consult you about?

Furthermore we live in a promiscuous society. It has become very much an amoral world. People allow their children to learn about responsibility from the child's friends. Or from celebrities. Or the child is left to make up his own rules as he goes along in life. You brought this life into the world make it clear the dangers and the emotional turmoil that comes with experimenting with major issues that even adults grapple over. What kind of kid is curious about meeting strangers for sex? Youth that have not had any guidance or discipline. Clueless kids. Kids destined for heartache and multi marriages. Kids earmarked for alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Kids who will consider the booming pornographic industry or becoming a exotic dancer.

I have had the misfortune of seeing the damage done. I have tried to help some of these kids. I have seen the research. Look it up it is enough to make your stomach turn when you realize the overwhelming inevitable results of the future for these children. Very few of them ever adjust.

Think about it we don't let our children eat rat poisoning to learn there are dangerous things to eat. We don't let our kids play on the interstate to discover whether that is dangerous. Would you allow your child to play Russian Roulette to learn the responsibility of having a gun?

So let us all step up to the plate. We may not have the time or resources to eliminate online predators but we sure can make it that our child will not come in contact with them. Or at least if they somehow do, you will know about it. Also you and your child will work together to handle the situation. And your child will understand the severe consequences and the shear wrongness of these deviant acts.

Best of all your child will have come to learn why it is clearly dangerous and of no value to even consider meeting up with strangers for any reason. No one learns the truth about serious subjects like sex through trial and error. Especially a kid.