What is Online Stranger Danger?
As parents today, we would like to believe that our children are safe from stangers in our own homes. However as technology has entered into our lives, and the lives of our children, an insidious reality has arisen — strangers in the form of Online Predators can now chat online to our children right under our noses.
With all of the benefits the Internet brings, the dangerous consequences of handing over an internet-connected, camera-enabled device to our children cannot be ignored. Young people, especially young children and "tweens" (9-12 year olds), are not yet able to comprehend the potential long-term implications of their online actions. While they may be able to navigate an iPad better than adults, they have not developed the maturity, experience and resilience to cope with such serious online risks.
How much of a problem is it?
Unfortunately, the issue of Online Predators is growing at an alarming rate. Police forces in Australia have reported a 500% increase in the number of Online Predator related incidents in the last 5 years.
Some of the estimates are:
- There is estimated to be over 5,000,000 predators that surf the internet
- These predators are online around the clock looking for targets
- There is a fifty percent chance that if your child is in a chat room designated for under aged children, the stranger he or she is talking to is a sexual predator logged in under a false identity.
- One in five children will receive sexual advances while online but less than 25 per cent of them will inform a parent or adult.
Where is this taking place?
Unfortunately, there is an ever growing list of games, apps and social networking sites that present a risk to children online. This inlcudes popular apps such as:
- FaceBook
- Instagram
- SnapChat
- Fortnite
- and many, many more...
The link in the section below ("Where can I get more information?") has an up-to-date list of the most comomn apps and how you report incidents relating to them.
There is also some useful information here:
10 Apps that Parent Should Know About
What can I do about it?
There are a couple of simple suggestions for all parents in this area:
- Step 1: Teach your child how to recognise ”stranger danger” online, just as you would in the real world
- Step 2: Get engaged on your child’s “digital playground” — know what sites they’re on, what apps they are using and who their “friends” are online
Step 1 is up to you as a parent - Step 2 is where we step in.
Our solutions package is a great place to start - click the image in this section for more information.
There is, of course, some very good information below.
However, for parents, nothing beats talking to someone about it - and the best place to do that is at one of our Information Nights.
Not only will you be fully informed about the latest issues and risks, we will provide the solutions to the challenges we are all facing.
Talk to your school or your Parents and Friends Committee and ask them to give us a call.
Where can I get more information?
The Australian Government has set up the "Office of the eSafety Commissioner" which provides some excellent material in this area.
Their guide to games, apps and social networking can be found by clicking the section image or the link below.
The Queensland Police also has an excellent brochure which all parents should read (click on the link below)
