(E-MAIL, INSTANT MESSAGES, CHAT ROOMS)
The
following comments are taken from an article by Carla DiFonzo which appeared
in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal on
Friday, November 12, 2004.
"Cyberspace can be a fertile hunting
ground where predators are looking for young victims. According
to a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, one in
five children will be propositioned with cybersex - through e-mail, instant
messages or posts in an Internet chat room. It happens to 1 in 5
young people under the age of 18 who frequently use computers, either
at home or places like school or the library.
While today's children are technologically
savy, few parents are. Few parents really understand the dangers
of what their kids are doing with computers. "A survey by the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that 5 percent
or fewer of parents are familiar with the most commonly used acronyms
in Internet chat rooms."
"Because of this lack of information,
the organization has developed an extensive web site - www.missingkids.com
- where parents can learn how to prevent, detect and report online sexual
predators. To get acquainted with common chat-room lingo, simply
click on a feature called 'The Cyber Tipline' then on 'online acronyms'."
NCMEC public relations director Tina Schwartz
said "It's just too easy for a predator to disguise his or her identity
online, so kids don't always know who they're talking to. Predators
sometimes pretend they're kids and gain children's confidence."
"The resources we're offering are
invaluable," said Schwartz. "Parents are the first line of defense
in protecting their children from Internet predators; they're the ones
we have to arm."
"Trooper Michael McTavish heads the
Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Unit, established in 1997.
He said local reports of sexual predators aren't common. On the
other hand, he said the online distribution of pornographic materials
to minors 'happens quite a bit'."
Last month an area coach was ordered
to stand trial after being accused of contacting a local 16-year-old through
the Internet to arrange numerous sexual encounters. In
can and does happen, so parents wake up!
Some
acronyms used by children in instant messages and chatrooms
Source: National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children
P911- my parents are coming
H&K - hug and kiss
IPN - I'm posting naked
IWALU - I will always love you
KOC - kiss on cheek
KOL - kiss on lips
LDR - long-distance relationship
LMIRL - let's meet in real life
LMSO - laughing my socks off
LUWAMH - love you with all my heart
LY - love you
M/F - male or female?
MOSS - member of same sex
NIFOC - naked in front of computer
NP - nosy parents
PA - parents alert
PAL - parents are listening
PANB - parents are nearby
POS - parents over shoulder
TAW - teachers are watching
WTGP - want to go private?
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR PARENTS TO AVOID SERIOUS PROBLEMS
(1) Locate your computer in an open area where the
screen can easily be monitored from a distance.
(2) Don't leave your child unattended at the computer - even
if he/she is using it for homework. Keep monitoring and stay involved
with their activities.
(3) Know your child's password and know how to monitor the
history of the sites they've used. Then, don't be afraid to monitor
this history, especially if your child has been alone at the computer.
(4) Limit time and hours of computer use.
(5) Become computer literate yourself so you know what to
expect and know how to discuss it intelligently. And, take the time
to discuss computer use with your kids.
(6) Be concerned if you see your kids suddenly resizing screens
or flipping between screens when you are nearby. These are ways
to quickly hide what they are doing.
(7) Don't assume that it can't happen to your child - it can
happen to the "best" of children.
The Internet can be a great learning and information tool, but
it can also be an instrument of evil if not used correctly. to
top of page