Why do predators target kids?
The scary reality is that predators are after kids for several reasons: First, to obtain explicit material. Second, to extort someone for money, or third, to meet for a sexual encounter. Sometimes, the predator may be seeking a combination of the three.
Where do predators go after kids & teens?
Some kids as young as four years old are using electronic devices, most of which are connected to the internet. The great equalizer in our modern world is the ability to be online. Unfortunately, that means that your child may be visible to predators.
Predators find their victims wherever the kids spend time online. This includes popular games such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft. The other place is social media apps popular with tweens, teens, and young adults, such as Snapchat, Kik, Tik-Tok and Instagram. Facebook was once popular with this age group but is used less.
How do predators target kids?
Some predators use fake profiles and pretend to be a similar age to the person they are targeting. Their profile will include similar activities and interests so as to more easily make the connection with the kid. For example, the fake profile might have pictures of someone playing soccer or a reference being a fan of a popular musical artist. Their profile will look similar to others in the age group.
Other predators will use their real profile, indicating a person over 18. Kids or teens who have a strained relationship with their parents may be receptive to an adult stranger who appears kind, supportive, and accepting. The predator will try to determine a kid’s unmet need and then use that information to manipulate the minor.
Because it takes a mere matter of seconds to initiate a request to join a person’s social network, predators will target multiple people simultaneously and focus on who reacts. Many kids and teens build trust with online friends and don’t question who is actually behind the screen name.
Once a predator obtains illicit material, they will use that to coerce the child or teen to provide more explicit images.
How does the modern culture feed the problem?
Less people go to church or believe in God, compared to a generation ago. Modern culture puts people at the center, rather than God. God and religion have been taken out of the public square, Hollywood, and our schools. When kids (and adults) don’t have a moral foundation, it only follows that negative consequences will occur. Wherever God is removed, something nefarious will take its place.
Christian, patriotic, and nuclear family values are regularly mocked by modern society, politicians, and celebrities. When values can be self-defined, nothing is right or wrong, thus making children and teens more vulnerable to being exploited.
The internet allows anyone the chance to contact a child, thus making it easier to find victims. Many teens correlate their self-esteem to the number of friends\followers they have on social media. Thus, teens routinely accept a new online connection without knowing who the other person actually is.
The average age of viewing explicit images is now about 10 years old. This significantly influences a young person’s brain and normalizes viewing and creating such content. It also negatively impacts the outlook on relationships, and marriage and feeds a hookup culture that diminishes real love and intimacy. This brings a person farther away from God.
How teens make it worse
The number one activity where teens contribute to their own detriment is sexting. When pornography is viewed frequently and at a young age, sending and receiving nude pictures becomes normalized. Upwards of 90% of teens have sent or received explicit images by the time they graduate high school. This has contributed to a rise in cyberbullying, depression, sextortion, and self-harm. If a teen participates in this activity, it doesn’t seem odd when an online “friend” (who might be a predator) asks for pictures.
Additional resources can be obtained: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion and https://www.defendyoungminds.com/
What can you do to protect your loved one?
Parental attitude and involvement matter greatly. A hands-off approach is usually ineffective and absent parenting only increases a child’s risk of exploitation. Below are several practical tips:
- First and foremost have a conversation about biblical values regarding sex, marriage, family, and the human body. Use this as an opportunity to describe how one’s life can glorify God. Such discussion can include:
- God created marriage for one man and one woman
- The complementary roles of parents (similar to the holy family)
- Intimacy in the context of marriage
- Why marriage and parenting is about love and self-sacrifice
- How a strong relationship with God equals a strong marriage
- Talk to your kid and know his\her friends. Are their friends helping your kid become a better version of himself\herself?
- Limit to 200 “friends” or “followers” and ensure that your child has personally met the person. Even better, allow only friends that the parent has met.
- Know what your kid is doing online, especially in chat rooms and private messenger services.
- Install parental control software, which are guardrails. (These are not guaranteed to protect the user and are not a substitute for good parenting.)
- It’s okay to say “no” to your kid; be the parent, not the friend.
- Spend time together and be the involved parent.
- Know where they get things that you didn’t purchase.
- Require online activity be performed in a common area of your residence (e.g., kitchen.)
- Have your child give you all electronic devices at bedtime.
Written by John DiGirolamo
More detail can be found in DiGirolamo’s book: It’s Not About the Predator: A Parent’s Guide to Internet & Social Media Safety. John DiGirolamo is a critically acclaimed author, speaker, and anti-human trafficking advocate and is a member of the Christian Authors Network. The author’s website: https://itisnotabout.com/ and the book is available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/yr53rn85
Featured Image by Emily Wade on Unsplash
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