13 Year Old View: Internet Predators

YouTube…Facebook…Twitter…MySpace…Blogster… These are a few words that might make you immediately think INTERNET.  Wait…rape…assault…depression…bullies…suicide…dead at 13.   Do THESE words make you think INTERNET?

Good Morning Mrs. Grant and fellow classmates.  Today I am going to talk to you about Internet Predators, what’s being done to keep us safe and how we can protect ourselves.  As I’m sure you know, there are predators everywhere on the internet…but if you’re careful and take precautions, the internet can continue to be the amazing tool that it is.
To answer my earlier question about those last words making you think of the Internet, to most, their response would be no.   But are they things we should be thinking more about?   Yes.  Do they need to become a reality in our own lives?  No.
The word PREDATOR is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “a person who preys, plunders or devourers”.

The number of people that become victims of Internet predators is endless.  1 in 5 kids online is sexually solicited.  89% of sexual solicitations are made in chat rooms or by Instant Messaging on things like MSN.  22% of predator victims are between the ages of 10 and 13. 75% of kids do not tell their parents.  14% have actually met face to face with someone they only met over the internet.  From 2007-2009, MySpace deleted 90,000 accounts…because they were created by registered sex offenders.
People are taking action to expose and capture these criminals.  Dateline NBC created a show called “To catch a Predator” to do just that.  They use decoys posing as 11-15 year olds.    As soon as the predator solicits the decoy teenager, charges can be laid.  Scary fact…there isn’t one “type” of a person that can be a predator. They can be any age, male or female.  They can be teachers, doctors, lawyers…Rabi.  Yes.  A Rabi.  A teacher that was caught soliciting a 13 year old…actually taught 13 year olds.

As the Internet continues to play a bigger part in all our lives, the majority of us want to keep the internet a safe place.  A group called “Perverted Justice” is an online website that is also committed to finding and convicting predators.  Since 2004, they have made 521 convictions against Internet Predators.
While there are programs out there to catch the predators, we, ourselves, still have to play a role in our own safety.  The Internet’s original purpose was to exchange raw data.  This is pretty funny now, because it seems that a large amount of people are using it for socializing while on the other hand, another large group is using it to access IP addresses.  The Internet IS great for socializing. Facebook and Twitter currently have millions and millions of users.  YouTube.  Raise your hand if you DON’T know what YouTube is.  Excaaaaactly!  Now raise your hand if you know for sure that the person you are talking to online isn’t a predator.  All the sites I mentioned are great sites, but they all have the potential for Internet predators to get into your life.  The Internet isn’t already safe…it’s safe if you make it that way.

Are you aware there are programs on the Internet that allow you to get someone’s IP address?  Simply sending someone a file or a link can allow them access to information that could potentially end up tragic.  In just one click, an IP address can tell me the country you live in, your time zone, your region, your city.  Oh and may I add…your postal code.  As if all that info isn’t enough for me to find out where you live…it even gives me the exact latitude and longitude of where you are.  Your front door?   Yeah, that looks reeal nice.
So how do we keep ourselves safe?  When chatting online, keep personal information general.  Don’t give specifics about your city, age, name, school or work.  While you may make friends with some people you meet online, this is over time and remember they are “e-friends”.    Don’t always believe people are who they say they are.  Don’t send files or links to people you don’t know.  If someone is making you feel uncomfortable, tell someone.

As I mentioned earlier, the Internet does have a high potential for predator danger.  But use your smarts and it can continue to be a great social tool.
Sooooo .. I’m 13.  I live in Dundas, Ontario.  I go to St. Augustine School.  I love X-box.  Now that I’ve told you all about me, why don’t you tell me a little about you?  Maybe we could meet and hangout one day?

Be safe.
Thank you.