Using Social Media to Tackle Online Predators
Sexual predators are everywhere, especially online where they can have a special type of anonymity.
They can “pose” being anything they need to be – a 12-year-old girl, a respectful grandma, or a close friend of the target. With the ability to be anything they say they are at the moment, sexual predators find most social media sites to be a haven for activity.
However, some social media sites are fighting back and there are some things you can do to help secure you and your child.
Myspace
A social media staple before the eruption of Facebook, Myspace is targeting predators.
They have security personnel that trolls around seeking out online predators, and when they find sexual predators in their database, they’ll delete them out. Removing up to 30,000 people a week on average. If your child wants to be on a social media site, consider Myspace. Always keep a watch on your child while they are online, but at least with Myspace they are actively seeking out predators to delete.
If you or your child just have to be on Facebook, there may not be security set in place to take out predators before they can get to you, but they do have some customized features designed to help.
You can go into your account and restrict your account to a “friends only” show. This only allows people that you accept into your friends list to be able to see your posts and to contact you. However, Facebook also has in play a feature that allows someone that isn’t your friend to message you if they pay $1 for the privilege. Weigh your options on this one.
Laws in Place
There are now laws in place where sex offenders are going to have to leave a trail wherever they go.
In the U.S., 10 states have already put legislature in place that state that sex offenders must list an email address in their documents. Laws are already in place that state that a sex offender must register at his new location whenever he moves, this just adds an email address for the predator. However, we all know how easy it is to get an email address, especially “throwaway” email addresses.
Laws That Are Proposed
There is even a further reaching piece of legislation that has been offered.
Attorney General of North Carolina Roy Cooper has offered up a law that states that there should be parental consent for children to be online on social media sites. The plan here is that if a child needs parental consent, there will end up being fewer underage children on the sites for predators to have contact with.
Diligence
It really all boils down to watching your children or you yourself taking precautions to ask questions when you meet someone online. Don’t assume anything and don’t form trust with someone who could be the direct opposite from his/her online persona.
Social media does have its pitfalls, but as a concerned parent or a wary singleton, you can help make sure that you are safe online. If it feels wrong, or it sounds strange, never give in to the “what-if”.
Always choose safety over new friends and new experiences.
Photo credit: trendhunter.com
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