Expert: Children remain vulnerable to online predators

Local area residents learned Tuesday night how to keep their children safe from becoming the victim of online sexual predators and of the dangers of unmonitored Internet use.

During a two-hour session at Southeast Missouri State University, around 40 people were shown how easily a predator on the Internet can search the Web and learn a child's personal information, including address and telephone numbers, based off a few entries on a blog or chat site.

Sgt. Joseph Laramie, of the Glendale, Mo., police department and director of the Missouri Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, led a presentation where he showed several examples of how a predator could track down a child.

"Personal information about things that no one in this room would walk into a mall, would take that material and post it in their front yard and let people in their neighborhoods see ... are getting online and are giving it up to anyone who has a computer anywhere in the world," Laramie said. "Too many of them are giving up way too much information -- personal information about themselves."

To combat that information getting into the wrong hands, Laramie suggested that parents ensure children do not post their name, age, address or telephone numbers online anywhere.

Rules for their children using the Internet should also be established, similar to typical questions parents ask when their child leaves the house on a Saturday night: where are they going, who are they with, and on long are they going to be there. The computer the children use should also be in a common area, and not in the child's bedroom.

"The best line of defense is communication and parents teaching their kids the proper use of the Web sites," Laramie said.

Several different type of children get caught up in a predator's web, including those who are naturally caring, easily tricked, or are seeking affection, Laramie said.

Following the presentation, the floor was opened up for a question and answer session featuring U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway and members of the FBI and Secret Service.

There are 50,000 sexual predators online at any time, according to Hanaway. Of their victims, 70 percent are under the age of 12 and 50 percent are under the age of 5, she said.

Parents worried about their children's online activity and whether they are caught up in something dangerous should look for several patterns, according to Tammy Gwaltney, executive director for the Network Against Sexual Violence. Some of those signs include if the child changes their eating patterns, isolate themselves or try to hide their Internet activity, or if their group of friends change.

The risks of online use is not just limited to sexual solicitation, Laramie warned. Children are also subjected to hate and drug sites, harassment, theft of personal identification information and online betting on the Web.

"These things are happening," Laramie said.

The panel suggested that if anyone suspects a sexual exploitation of a child online to contact the Cyber Tip Line, (800) 843-5678.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

For More Info on keeping kids safe online:

Netsmartz.org

Safekids.com

GetNetWise.org

Netparenting.com