Summer is a time for fun, activities and being alert; monitoring your child’s use of the internet during the summer months

BY STEVEN KASZAB

We know criminals are out there, waiting to find us, manipulate and abuse us. We can grab the bull by the tail and be pulled about, or we can grab the horns and redirect our life situations. Being aware, alert and ready to act in our family’s benefit and safety is key.

Now that summer is upon us all, we should perhaps become much more aware of the dangers that exist when unsupervised children and teenagers begin to enjoy their summer breaks. One particular threat that exists is sex trafficking, especially for children and teenagers who have unrestricted access to social media and the internet.

Sex traffickers commonly use online sites and the internet to “groom” their potential victims, usually in places such as social media platforms, online gaming sites and chat rooms targeting children. These predators are well trained in searching out and exploiting victim’s vulnerabilities, which include children who are online without adult supervision.

A chat may begin, with the traffickers developing a limited relationship with the unsupervised child. To lure their victims, sex traffickers create fake social media profiles, so they appear as children to their victims. These criminals especially target children who don’t have proper security settings on their social media devices. It is an easy way for the trafficker to collect information on their potential victims.

Entering many different social media platforms allows the predators to see a child’s text messages, photo’s character traits, socially viable dates (birthdays), making it easier for them to befriend and manipulate their victims. Acting kind, empathetic and befriending the child, the predator’s main purpose is to meet the child face-to-face. Understanding a child’s home life, and their state of mind could assist them in developing ways to isolate the child. Family fight occurs, and the child is upset. The trafficker could arrange bus tickets, a ride, or arrange a place where they could get together and talk.

According to US Statistics females aged 15, and younger male children are the prime targets for sex traffickers. Some of their strategies are quite complex. Some offer false modelling opportunities as part of their grooming process. Other times the predator may use a child’s peers as a means of approaching them. Shopping malls, bowling alleys, bus depots are just some areas where traffickers recruit their victims.

Parents and family members are key to protecting children, especially during the summer months when children are at home, and parents need to go to work. Adult supervision is key. Also finding an adult who is safe and trusted by the family is necessary. Remember 33% of sexual abuse of children happens at the hands of someone they know.

Parents don’t feel like you’re being distrustful of your children; monitor regularly all online content for indicators of possible new and unknown connections.

Folks, like a forest fire, ONLY YOU can keep your child safe.