A Warning About On-Line Socializing

A Warning About On-Line Socializing

At a recent hospital presentation on interent safety, CHOC pediatrician Maria Tupas, MD., sat in amazed shock as NetSmartz representative explained how easily online predators can identify potential victims. A search-savvy predator can figure out a child’s gender, probable age, interests and email addresse within two minutes, After 20 minutes, the predator knows everything: full name, home address and directions, home phone numbers, school, siblings’ names, parents” names and even where the parents work. All the above information can be ferreted ou even if the child posts “anonymously”.

A Warning About On-Line Socializing

At a recent hospital presentation on interent safety, CHOC pediatrician Maria Tupas, MD., sat in amazed shock as NetSmartz representative explained how easily online predators can identify potential victims. A search-savvy predator can figure out a child’s gender, probable age, interests and email addresse within two minutes, After 20 minutes, the predator knows everything: full name, home address and directions, home phone numbers, school, siblings’ names, parents” names and even where the parents work. All the above information can be ferreted ou even if the child posts “anonymously”.

And that’s the biggest problem with online social networks such as MySpace, Facebook and others. The kids, teens and young adults who use them often have a false sense on anononymity. They freely post lewd comments and seductive photos, and brag about their exploits with drugs and sex.

“The Internet is open to the worls, but teenagers think they are just talking to the computer and their friends,” Dr. Tupas says. “Even if they don’t put their names, addresses or phone numbers on their profiles, they inadvertently give away information while chatting.”

Predators are not the only ones watching. Colleges and employers have also caught on. Potential students and job candidates have been disqualied because of unsavory information they posted on the Internet.

Watch out for Cyberbullies:

Sophisitcated, high-tech social tools have also elevated bullying to a new level. Catty comments, gossip and rumors may be easily spread through on-line posts, instant messaging, email and cell phone text messages. Cliques form in chat rooms, and kids exclude one another from “buddy lists”.

Victims tend to not tell their parents for fear of losing the computer priviledges. Experts advise ignoring the messages or blocking the bullies’ screen names and email addresses. In some cases, it may be best for the child to get a new screen name, email address and password.

Establish Clear Rules:

You have to take charge and be the parents, Dr. Tupas says. Many of these online social networks are supposed to eb for teens and ages 14 and older, but there is no way of verifying the age of the users. Many elementary school kids pose as older teens. Predators, of course, pretend to be peers.

“As a parent, you have to technically savvy,” Dr. Tupas says. “Use filters or parental controls to limit access to pornography. Talk to your kids about the dangers and monitor where they go. Some of these webistes add 500,000 new members each week. How can they possibly monitor everything that is going on?”

NetSmartz is an interactive, educational safety resource foir children, teens, parents, educators and law enforcement. Created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, NetSmartz provides high-impact educational activities that are well received by even the most tech-savvy kids. For more information, visist www.NetSmartz.org.

This article was recently printed in the Fall 2006 Issue of Kids Health Publication from Children’s Hospital of Orange County and CHOC at Mission.