…“Distracted from distraction by distraction” ― T.S. Eliot.
You probably want to know if online predators are common and if this sort of thing happens often.
Here are some interesting facts about online sexual predators:
- Approximately 95 percent of all Americans between 12 and 17 years old are online and three in four teens access the internet on cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices (as of 2012)[i]
- One in five U.S. teenagers who regularly log on to the Internet says they have received an unwanted sexual solicitation via the Web. Solicitations were defined as requests to engage in sexual activities or sexual talk, or to give out personal sexual information. (only 25% of those told a parent) [ii]
- About 30% of the victims of Internet sexual exploitation are boys.
- Internet sexual predators tend to fall between the ages of 18 and 55, although some are older or younger. Their targets tend to be between the ages of 11 and 15
- In 100% of the cases, teens that are the victims of sexual predators have gone willingly to meet with them[iii].
- There are 799,041 Registered Sex Offenders in the United States (2015)[iv].
- Teens are willing to meet with strangers: 16 percent of teens considered meeting someone they’ve only talked to online and 8 percent have actually met someone they only knew online[v].
- 75% of children are willing to share personal information online about themselves and their family in exchange for goods and services[vi].
33% of teens are Facebook friends with other people they have not met in person.[vii].
To Share or Not Share
Personal contact information
- Addresses and phone numbers could help potential burglars
or stalkers locate you much more easily. - Identity theft is made simpler by every piece of information the
thief can obtain.
Financial information
- Do not post pictures of checks or credit cards
- Do not post account numbers, the name of your bank or credit card
- Do not make comments about your finances, even in general
Password or password hints
- Do not post your password to Facebook or to any other
accounts. - Do not post information that could give crooks information
about your password hints. Some common ones include your
mother’s maiden name, your first pet’s name, or the name of
the street you grew up on
When you will be or are away from home
- Do not post comments about going out of town for the night or
week. It will give others an idea of when your house will be
empty. - Do not post photos while on vacation, as again, potential
burglars will be able to tell they have time to pay your home an
unwanted visit. - Consider avoiding “checking in” to places, as this is also a
record of when you aren’t home.
ARE YOUR KIDS NOT LISTENING TO YOU TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY?
i GOT YOU!
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