Go To Internet Safety Index
Guide to Internet Terms
Printer-friendly Version

93% of Kids Age 10-17 Use the Internet (A Nation Online Study – 2002)
82% use the internet for email, chat rooms, and/or visiting websites (TIME-CNN Poll)
44% have visited websites with x-rated content (Time-CNN Poll)

Characteristics of Predators

• Most offenders are male.
• They often hold respectable jobs.
• Offenders tend to relate more easily to children than adults.
• They may seek employment or volunteer opportunities at a child’s organization.
• They can be extremely convincing.
• They rely on the inexperience of their potential victims, and they know what to say and do to gain their trust.

1 in 7 youths between the ages of 10 and 17 has received unwanted sexual solicitations on line.
1 in 25 youths has received an aggressive solicitation to meet somewhere.
14% of solicitations were from offline friends and acquaintances. (David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later)

Most North Carolina parents (60%) felt their children are at some risk of being contacted or preyed upon by someone they do not know while on the Internet. (Kevin West, SBI, Crimes Against Children)

Characteristics of a Child Victim

• ANY child, including those who may be performing well in school and socializing with a “good” crowd of friends
• Naturally curious.
• Too trusting
• Easily led by adults
• Desire attention and affection
• Curious about sex
• Need to defy parents

1 in 3 youths (34%) has been exposed to sexually explicit pictures online without seeking or expecting them. (David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later)

Most North Carolina parents (80%) expressed concern about sexually explicit materials on the Internet.

60% of teens have received an IM from a stranger (difficult to trace instant messages)
56% of teens have more than one email address
21% of teens have 4 or more email addresses (Kevin West, SBI, Crimes Against Children)

1 in 11 youths has been threatened or harassed online.
Only about half of the children who were threatened or harassed reported the incident to their parents. (David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later)

Unique Characteristics of Online Victimization

• Physical contact not necessary
  (e.g. Chat, digitally-morphed images)
• Image may remain on the Internet forever
• Jurisdictional issues
• Many victims do not disclose

What Predators are Looking For

• Chat Rooms where children disclose personal information
• Screen names in which children may identify themselves or their interests.
  • Jessica13country (Girl's name may be Jessica. She may be 13 years old. She might live in the country.)
  • Kennychesneyguy (Teen might like Kenny Chesney.)
  • May use screen name to look for the child’s profile
• Online profile with personal information or interests
• Email to begin dialogue with the child
• Instant Messaging opportunities
• A child who will keep the relationship secret

Research based on interviews with law enforcement about Internet-related sex crimes found sex offenders who met their victims online largely sought out young teenagers, and rarely targeted those younger than 13. The research also found offenders rarely used deceit of violence. Rather they appealed to adolescents’ interest in romance and sex. (Wolak, et al., 2004).

FBI Warning Signs

• Time Spent Online, especially at night
• Your child turns the monitor off or changes the screen quickly when you enter the room
• Pornography
• Phone Use
• Unsolicited Mail & Gifts
• Concealing Computer Content
• Behavior Change
• Using or Changing Online Account

Chat Room & Instant Message Abbreviations

**For more Chat abbreviations, click here (pdf)

Family Rules

• Do your children ask before they access the Internet?
• Is there a time limit?
• What hours may your children access the internet?
• Is your child permitted to use email? If so, do you share an account?
• Is your child permitted to use IM? If so, do you want to approve of their “buddy” list and when do you want to review it?
• Is your child permitted to use chat rooms? If so, do you want to limit them to certain chat rooms that you have previewed and have approved?
• Establish rules BEFORE your children begin using the computer.

For a Sample Family Contract, click here (pdf)

Parental Controls

• Contact your Internet Service Provider for help
• Computer “Help”
• Go to Tools on your Internet Browser and click internet options, then click Security.
• Create individual logins for family members
• Check history often
• Purchase filtering or blocking software
• I Safe (Leader in Internet Safety Education) www.isafe.org

Tips for Parents

• Avoid Online Profiles
• Control access to chat rooms
• Control instant messaging
• Take care with photographs
• If your child has a blog, review it with them and make sure no personal info is given.
• Keep screen names anonymous
• Access your child’s email
• Place computer in common area
• Remind children that the computer is not confidential

Internet Safety Tips for Families English (pdf) or Spanish (pdf)

How to talk to your child

• Don’t talk to strangers
• Make a point to sit with your child and see the sites they like to visit
• If you think a site is inappropriate, explain why
• Discuss inappropriate sites
• Discuss the differences between “pretend” and reality on the Internet
• Discuss what to do if someone harasses or threatens them online

Report Suspicious Activity

Only 5% of incidents of solicitation and only 2% of unwanted exposure were reported to law enforcement, Internet Service Providers, or other authorities. (David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later)

**Save the Original Message!

To report online solicitation of a child, or obscene materials from an adult to a child, call 1-800-843-5678 or visit www.cybertipline.com.

Resources

I Safe (Leader in Internet Safety Education) www.isafe.org

Internet Safety Index - Jump to Topic

Chat Room & Instant Message Abbreviations
Characteristics of Predators, Victims, & Online Victimization
Family Rules
FBI Warning Signs
Parental Controls
Reporting & Resources
Tips for Parents
What Predators are Looking For