I have put this document together for you so we can all enjoy ourselves safely. There is a great world, but as you've discovered it's not just filled with kids but with adults too. With this mix of children, teens and adults, all kinds of dangers present themselves. I am here to teach you how to be safe. You are probably laughing at the idea because you know it all already... Maybe this is not for you. My purpose here is to PREVENT! As for the adults reading this, this document is good for you too. You're likely not concered with pedophiles anymore, but there are still stalkers and predators out there! Here are a couple facts that may interest you before I continue:
- 4 to 5 million children and teens from ages 10-17 get sexually solicit and approached online. This is from people of all ages, both older and younger.
- 77% of the targets for online predators were age 14 or older. Another 22% were users ages 10 to 13.
- Over 3000 reported children and teens have gone missing or were exploited by adults they met online, the majority met in a chat room first. This number may seem low, but when it happens the results can be tragic!
I want to let you know about myself. I am a 22 year old woman, and I've been online since I was around 10. When I was 14, I met this wonderful man through online chat. He was 21 at the time. We continued to get to know each other, and I married him when I was 18! I was 16 the first time we met, and my dad picked him up at the airport. He spent 2 whole weeks at my parent's house. We are still happily married and have a baby. Why am I telling you this? Because not all online encounters are bad! But it is VERY IMPORTANT for you to be able to tell the difference between the good and the bad!
THE BIGGEST DANGER TO YOUR SAFETY IS IF YOU GET TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE YOU MEET ONLINE. BEWARE OF STALKERS, PREDATORS, AND PEDOPHILES!
Here are some great tidbits that I have collected from personal experience and research:
- All it takes is one psycho to cause serious damage.
- Chat is the most dangerous area on the Internet.
- People will lie online because they can. They can lie about anything and everything and get away with it. I've met one guy that had 6 online personalities!
- Predators are not always honest about their age, sex, and hobbies. They will often tell you what you want to hear to gain your trust. They will use fake pictures and fake information to lure you. Sometimes they are honest about everything, except for their intentions.
- There are Internet predators, stalkers and pedophiles amongst us; they are both men and women.
- The threat of predators, stalkers and pedophiles is very real. You are in the biggest and best chat room online, expect to find them here!
- You often won't recognize them for what they are until it's too late. You may know some right now. They are not trying to blow their cover. Sometimes they don't even realize what they are doing!
- We tend to think they are forceful, but sometimes they are not. Either way, they are still trying to take advantage of you. They'll either try to dominate you, or they trick you into giving it.
- They are very patient. They'll wait for the right moment to make every move. Don't forget that they have the advantage of being older and are therefore wiser about life!
- They will often pick on the quiet person that doesn't get too much attention, thinking that person will be flattered and dying for the attention.
- You make think its fun now to have an experience with a much older person, but if it carries on to real life it can seriously mess you up for life--maybe even take it.
If I am telling you all these things, it is because I care! It is very serious matter and should not be taken lightly. You are all valuable members of the community. I'm not trying to be overprotective or control who you talk to, I just want you to know how to be safe and protect your own self. I don't want you to be another statistic! Now that you know all these things, here are some very important tips and rules that you should follow:
- Don't trust anyone. A lot of people online LIE because they CAN. They will lie for very many different reasons, but as a rule of thumb, never trust anyone you have just met because if you do, they can possibly harm you in many different ways. People use FAKE pictures ALL THE TIME. There was this one time, we found out a really popular girl was played by both her and her husband! They were using a friend's picture. She was going to get married to someone in There. He was completely devastated when he found out!
- Don't give out your address, phone number, or complete real name. These three items are very important because with the Internet and other references, they can locate you in real life. This also extends to using your real life pictures and your parent's names. It is OK to give out your state and first name, but any more than that can become dangerous. If someone pressures you for more information, don't tell them, explain your reasons, and tell your parents and friends. If you do give information to close friends, be sure they are willing to respect your privacy. After all, real friends like you for who you are, not where you live!
- Don't tell anyone your passwords. You may trust your friends, but in all honesty the only person you can ever really trust is yourself. People will change your password if you give it them, or give your password to someone else. Sometimes out of fun, or sometimes to be mean when you get in a fight. People are often mean because they can; they don't have any real life consequences to face afterwards.
- Be careful with people older than yourself. When a predator finds someone who seems vulnerable, they will try to become their friend first by making them feel comfortable. They start with chat, then IM, then e-mail, then phone, and finally they will want to meet in person. Sometimes they will lie the entire time, saying they are your age and that their dad or mom will come pick you up when it is really them.
- Even if an event is Teen Only, there may be adults. So be on guard! Often, the older person will lie about their age to get you to trust them. Nothing is stopping them from doing this! So please be careful about giving information publicly because you think only other kids will hear it. It is not the case.
- Don't put up with rudeness or unwanted sexual behavior. Use the ignore feature people! No one can make you do what you don't want to do. YOU have the power to get rid of them at your fingertips! If someone is being mean and rude, it says a lot more about them than you. Responding just encourages the person.
- Don't meet people you meet online by yourself. If you meet someone in real life that you met online, be sure that you are not alone. Bring at least 2-3 friends, and let a trusted adult know where you are at all times. Arrange to meet in a public place. I know this may seem silly to some, having to "report to your parents"... I know I sure don't do that. But when I did meet someone from online I made sure to let someone know where I would be in case the other person was not who they said they were. It is so easy to be deceived online!
Last but not least, you may be wondering who to contact when you are being chased by an Internet predator, stalker or pedophile. If someone sends you messages or images that are filthy, indecent, lewd, or obscene with the intent to abuse, annoy, harass or threaten you, report it to THERE (abuse@there.com) and to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline® at http://www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
If you think I have missed any points or would like to add anything, please let me know!
Cytra
Last edited: 06/09/2006
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