Over the course of 2 years, MySpace alone had to remove some 90,000 sexual predators off its website.
Enablers are typically social networking sites that serve the positive purpose of sharing information and connecting people with common backgrounds or interests. Unfortunately, these are all the things that predators are looking for. Predators need information about their prey, and they also need to connect with them. That‘s why MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites are a virtual gold mine for sexual predators.
Talk to you kids and make sure they understand what is ok and isn’t ok to post. Even if they think they are posting in private, predators know all the tricks to be-friend people and gain their trust.
Bob Kessinger,CyberPatrol
Bob is the co-author of Surfing Among the Cyber Sharks: Parent’s Guide to Protecting Children and Teens from Online Risk