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Do you really know with whom you are communicating?
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| Internet: While global communication capabilities have increased, so too have the dangers. |
Thelma Grimes
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The warnings are clear: Social networking use is growing, but for many teenagers, the threat of sexual predators online is a warning lost in cyberspace.
A recent Verizon Wireless advertisement said in the 1980s the average person had about 25 friends. Today, those caught up in the social networking trend have about 200 friends.
But of those friends, only a handful are people they have met in person.
The world wide web has not only proven to be a source for useful information, it has also opened the world up to teenagers, adults and anyone interested in participating in programs like Facebook and Myspace. And cell phones with their texting ability have caught on with teenagers.
Texting allows teenagers to contact anyone, any day, all day. Thousands of texts a month can be sent from one set of fingers, and between that and the Internet, predators are lurking.
According to statistics, one in seven of the nation's under 18 population have been propositioned for sex over the Internet this year, and many of these teenagers know the sex predator's age beforehand.
Facebook is the latest craze, and it is not uncommon for teenagers to approve being friends with someone they have never met.
Friending on Facebook means anyone with a computer and their own account can approach any other person and become their "friend." Being a friend allows one to see all the personal information on the friend's page.
In May, Benson resident Marshal Brown accepted a plea from the Cochise County Attorney's office for sexual misconduct with a minor, and will be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Brown has been accused of having sex with a 14-year-old, 13-year-old, 17-year-old, and last year was investigated in Pima County for allegedly having sex with an 11-year-old.
Brown was able to manipulate these teenagers without speaking to any of them in person.
Using texting and Facebook, local police say he was able to deceive all of his victims, who were excited at the prospect that an older guy was giving them some attention.
Besides his victims, Brown is an example of someone having plenty of friends on Facebook, and many of them are local teens between the ages of 11 and 17.
One of Brown's Facebook friends is a local 17-year-old who when asked why she pushed the accept button when he sent her the friend request, she said it was because she knew him through a mutual friend. She had actually never met him.
Some of Benson's local athletes and other teenagers could also be seen on Brown's friends list.
Benson Detective Brian Williams said this points to a growing problem for local police and parents.
By approving friend requests from strangers, Williams and Police Chief Paul Moncada said these teenagers are setting themselves up.
Many sexual predators scan the Internet looking for their next victim, and Facebook postings are providing plenty of information.
Moncada said youth in rural communities are just as susceptible to predators as those in large towns, and sex offenders will travel to meet their victims.
In scanning Facebook pages for several local teens, comments are made about sex, drinking and fun. Others are private sites that don't mention anything or reveal anything personal.
Williams said what parents and teenagers need to understand is that once it's posted online, it is there to stay.
Education is key to protecting teens from these predators.
Williams stressed that parents must be involved and remember that just because Benson and the San Pedro Valley are small communities, it doesn't mean stranger danger does not exist.
"Make sure your kids know curfews, guidelines and limits," he said. "Know who they are hanging around with: get addresses and phone numbers and always check on them."
Parents must be the first line of defense. Moncada said his teenagers are required to give him access to cell phones and passwords to online programs.
Children may view it as an invasion of privacy, but knowing user names, passwords and logging into your child's account on occasion to see with whom they are talking is important.
Parents also need to talk to teenagers, and now even elementary school students, about not sharing too much information online.
Do not put personal information like phone numbers, addresses, sexual content and most of all do not become friends with a stranger, even if they are friends of a friend, Moncada said.
Moncada said the warnings are not about getting parents paranoid, but to prevent tragedy from happening.
Even parents who are not computer savvy can keep up with what their children are doing and posting online.
Instead of banning your children from social networks and cell phone use, parents are encouraged to teach responsible usage.
Onguardonline.gov tells parents the best way to police a teenagers' activities is to remind them that once they post it, they can never get it back; read sites' privacy policies and tell kids to trust their gut if they have suspicions.
For pre-teens, the same site tells parents to keep the computer in an open area such as the kitchen or family room, and go where your kids go.
Even though a parent doesn't use the computer as often, they are encourage to sign up for and use programs their kids are using and review a child's friends list regularly.
Moncada said the same thing goes for phones and texting. Most of the time the parent is paying for the phone use, and they have every right to see who their children are texting, and who is listed in their contacts.
Other Web sites to help parents learn and understand social networking include: www.connectsafely.org, www.cyberbuly411.org, www.getnetwise.org, www.iKeepSafe.or and www.staysafe.org.
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
The warnings are clear: Social networking use is growing, but for many teenagers, the threat of sexual predators online is a warning lost in cyberspace.
A recent Verizon Wireless advertisement said in the 1980s the average person had about 25 friends. Today, those caught up in the social networking trend have about 200 friends.
But of those friends, only a handful are people they have met in person.
The world wide web has not only proven to be a source for useful information, it has also opened the world up to teenagers, adults and anyone interested in participating in programs like Facebook and Myspace. And cell phones with their texting ability have caught on with teenagers.
Texting allows teenagers to contact anyone, any day, all day. Thousands of texts a month can be sent from one set of fingers, and between that and the Internet, predators are lurking.
According to statistics, one in seven of the nation's under 18 population have been propositioned for sex over the Internet this year, and many of these teenagers know the sex predator's age beforehand.
Facebook is the latest craze, and it is not uncommon for teenagers to approve being friends with someone they have never met.
Friending on Facebook means anyone with a computer and their own account can approach any other person and become their "friend." Being a friend allows one to see all the personal information on the friend's page.
In May, Benson resident Marshal Brown accepted a plea from the Cochise County Attorney's office for sexual misconduct with a minor, and will be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Brown has been accused of having sex with a 14-year-old, 13-year-old, 17-year-old, and last year was investigated in Pima County for allegedly having sex with an 11-year-old.
Brown was able to manipulate these teenagers without speaking to any of them in person.
Using texting and Facebook, local police say he was able to deceive all of his victims, who were excited at the prospect that an older guy was giving them some attention.
Besides his victims, Brown is an example of someone having plenty of friends on Facebook, and many of them are local teens between the ages of 11 and 17.
One of Brown's Facebook friends is a local 17-year-old who when asked why she pushed the accept button when he sent her the friend request, she said it was because she knew him through a mutual friend. She had actually never met him.
Some of Benson's local athletes and other teenagers could also be seen on Brown's friends list.
Benson Detective Brian Williams said this points to a growing problem for local police and parents.
By approving friend requests from strangers, Williams and Police Chief Paul Moncada said these teenagers are setting themselves up.
Many sexual predators scan the Internet looking for their next victim, and Facebook postings are providing plenty of information.
Moncada said youth in rural communities are just as susceptible to predators as those in large towns, and sex offenders will travel to meet their victims.
In scanning Facebook pages for several local teens, comments are made about sex, drinking and fun. Others are private sites that don't mention anything or reveal anything personal.
Williams said what parents and teenagers need to understand is that once it's posted online, it is there to stay.
Education is key to protecting teens from these predators.
Williams stressed that parents must be involved and remember that just because Benson and the San Pedro Valley are small communities, it doesn't mean stranger danger does not exist.
"Make sure your kids know curfews, guidelines and limits," he said. "Know who they are hanging around with: get addresses and phone numbers and always check on them."
Parents must be the first line of defense. Moncada said his teenagers are required to give him access to cell phones and passwords to online programs.
Children may view it as an invasion of privacy, but knowing user names, passwords and logging into your child's account on occasion to see with whom they are talking is important.
Parents also need to talk to teenagers, and now even elementary school students, about not sharing too much information online.
Do not put personal information like phone numbers, addresses, sexual content and most of all do not become friends with a stranger, even if they are friends of a friend, Moncada said.
Moncada said the warnings are not about getting parents paranoid, but to prevent tragedy from happening.
Even parents who are not computer savvy can keep up with what their children are doing and posting online.
Instead of banning your children from social networks and cell phone use, parents are encouraged to teach responsible usage.
Onguardonline.gov tells parents the best way to police a teenagers' activities is to remind them that once they post it, they can never get it back; read sites' privacy policies and tell kids to trust their gut if they have suspicions.
For pre-teens, the same site tells parents to keep the computer in an open area such as the kitchen or family room, and go where your kids go.
Even though a parent doesn't use the computer as often, they are encourage to sign up for and use programs their kids are using and review a child's friends list regularly.
Moncada said the same thing goes for phones and texting. Most of the time the parent is paying for the phone use, and they have every right to see who their children are texting, and who is listed in their contacts.
Other Web sites to help parents learn and understand social networking include: www.connectsafely.org, www.cyberbuly411.org, www.getnetwise.org, www.iKeepSafe.or and www.staysafe.org.
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