MEA-MFT Teachers Conference Online Safety: Cyber Predators - Presented by Desireé Caskey You can be anyone you want to be on the Internet
Topics for Today What our students are saying - Internet Landscape Pornography and its role Cyber Predators -Profile -Tools -Grooming Process -What can we do
Sobering Stats Six out of 10 kids online have gotten an e-mail or instant message from a perfect stranger... and more than half have written back. One in 33 kids has been aggressively solicited to meet their "cyber friend" in person. One in four kids, ages 10-17, has been exposed to unwanted sexual material online. (Federal Bureau of Investigations)
Internet Landscape 81% of students spend at least 1 hr / week online 11.5% spend more than 8 hrs / week 89% of students are familiar with chat rooms 38% enter chat rooms at least once a week This generation of school children have never known a world without the Internet.
Consider this 31% of students use the computer most often for online communication (E-mail, Chatting, IM). 30% say it s easier to talk with people on the Internet than in person. 15% have received mean or threatening messages while online.
Everyone is Talking Online Of 3 rd and 4 th graders surveyed 60% go on the Internet alone. 46% use E-mail. 26% use Instant Messaging (IM). 18% go into chatrooms. 14.5% have made a new friend by using the Internet.
Our Children are Vulnerable to Exploitation I have given out personal information on-line (signing onto a website, playing games, etc.). Percent 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 36.7% 28.4% 18.2% 21.9% 42.7% 38.7% 41.3% 44.0% 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Grade
Consider this i-safe student data reveals that 40% have visited an inappropriate place on the Internet; almost 18% more than once. 90% of 8 to16 year-olds have viewed pornography online. Most access occurs unintentionally while doing homework. London School of Economic, January 2002 Video
Every Child is At Risk Online Meeting Face to Face (by grade) 40.0% 35.0% 30.0% Percent 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Grade Asked to meet Willing to meet Have met
How we reveal too much Screen Name Online Profile Chat Room Iming Blogging Gaming Social Networks Too revealing Way too much information Learns the lingo Makes it intimate Online diaries Profiles & Chat Friend of a friend of a friend
How we reveal too much
Cyber Predators
Cyber Predator Profile 25-65 years old Doctors Well educated Religious Leaders Married with children Parents No socio-economic tag Counselors Steady employment Congressman Varied computer expertise Teachers Male Coaches
Four types of offenders Travelers - Those who manipulate or coerce kids to meet them in person for sexual purposes. Travelers focus on physical contact - that is their ultimate goal. These predators may arrange to meet the child victim at a shopping mall, school, soccer field, theater, private home (while the parents are out) or other location. Collectors - Those involved in collecting child pornography. Collectors may amass huge collections of child pornography. Although they may actively trade images with other collectors, these predators are typically not involved in the creation. Manufacturers - Those who create child pornography on any type of medium (all manufacturers are collectors). Manufacturers create child pornography using a variety of media (digital pictures, printed pictures, video, etc.). They may actively solicit children through bribery, coercion or force. Chatters - Those presenting themselves as trustworthy individuals in chat sessions. Chatters may be seen as harmless individuals who may not collect child pornography or seek physical contact with the victim. They are not harmless - they can expose the child to sexually inappropriate communications and graphic images depicting sexual images. Chatters may develop into collectors or travelers.
The Tools of a Cyber Predator Chat Rooms Blogs Iming Email Phone Social Networks
The Grooming Process The grooming process is similar to adult courting and can take a short time or a very long time. A cyber predator is patient. Shared Interests Build Trust Secrecy Break Down Barriers - Diminish inhibitions Threaten with exposure or harm ALWAYS working towards a face-to-face meeting Take it from an expert
Online Safety - What can we do? Know about chat rooms and social networks Know about IMing and blogging Learn the sites and sounds of the Internet Listen to your kids/students Know online acronyms Follow these tips from the NCMEC