You may think that if your computer is in plain sight for all family members to see that your child is thus safe from the predators and child molesters who lurk, like alligators in leafy glades, waiting for unsuspecting prey. As is the case with all other primitive frontiers, there are no boundaries at inception. They are first set then established and honed, depending on use and abuse. Although the Internet has been around for quite a while, there is still a paucity of laws concerning child safety and protection from those who would hurt our children. This muddled mess with the First Amendment may or may not be to blame. I am a proud American, but some laws may need to be re-evaluated, amended and clarified with the passage of time.
The problem seems to be deeply rooted in the magnetic hold that chat rooms have over pre teen and teens, which enable them to switch identities, fantasize and play with others in almost forbidden, (although mostly harmless) ways. The Internet does a lot of good for children and that must be said as well. But danger does live there, and we must protect our children if by no other means than to just be aware of which sites they visit and how often.
There are some warning signs. If your child becomes secretive about where they are going on the Web, that is a red flag that you wouldn’t as a parent, approve. Also, too much time spent on the Internet is another indication that your child might be forming unhealthy and unnatural attachments. Unfortunately, pornography not only exists but also rocks on the unpatrolled Internet. For an adult, this is a personal option, no matter how distasteful the thought may be to some of us. For a child, however it is something else, not a choice, but an abyss which when fallen into may mean no exit forever from the world of human trafficking and child pornography. Keep your children safe and close.
Are YOUR children safe from predators? Please share.