Protect Your Child Online

Cyber-bullying refers to any bullying act performed using the Internet, mobile phones, or any other electronic gadget. Cases of cyber-bullying can be anywhere between mild and severe, from receiving continuous threatening messages to having harmful content regarding the victim exposed to the public.

Cyber-bullying can lead to emotional, mental, psychological, or even physical damage and in worst cases, even death. Individuals found guilty of cyber-bullying may be sentenced up to two years in jail. But of course, these individuals can only be caught if the persons they’ve hurt admit to being victims of cyber-bullying.

Vicki Courtney, a Texas-based author and creator of Virtuous Reality, a Christian ministry website dedicated to young females, shared several alarming figures taken from a report by Pew Internet and American Life Project. The survey revealed that almost 1/3 of the survey’s respondents admitted to being targeted by cyber-bullying.

The survey also revealed that more girls than boys were victimized by cyber-bullying. 6% had undesirable photos of them taken without their approval, 13% had received threatening messages via text or instant messaging and email, another 13% had rumors about them posted online, while 15% claimed that they had experienced having their messages posted online or forwarded without their approval.

Regarding the extent of cyber-bullying in the Internet, the survey showed that majority of its teenage respondents believe it’s more probable to get bullied offline rather than online.

The 43-year-old author believes that electronic gadgets such as mobile phones and the Internet makes it easier for people to type things “that you wouldn’t say to someone’s face”.

In the school front, several teachers belonging to the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) have lodged complaints against social networking websites after receiving news of cyber-bullying. Smooth Wall product manager Tony Newton, however, believes that schools should not be blamed for cyber bullying. Even if a school employs the best monitoring system for its Internet connection, students and other individuals may still use their mobile phones to transmit content used for cyber-bullying.

Activities happening outside school are often the root of the problem, according to Newton. He cites YouTube as an example but he also acknowledges the impossibility for the popular website to scan each and every video uploaded to its website for suitability.

Newton believes that the only way to effectively fight against cyber-bullying in school is by preventing creation of such content by banning use of phones, or at least those with video and camera capabilities, in school.

A survey conducted by Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center revealed that 25% of British kids had formed relationships with strangers through use of social networking websites and online chatting. The numbers are thrice as much as what it was two years ago.

Thankfully, however, the survey also revealed that three out of four children had met with strangers accompanied by one of their peers. 2% of the survey’s respondents had admitted going to their meeting places accompanied by an adult they trusted. Furthermore, the survey showed that kids today use the Internet over an hour each day.

A CEOP representative quoted by the Daily Mail said that children are “only aware to a degree” about online dangers of meeting up with strangers. Having another kid their age accompany them will only put their companion at risk as well.

This is not the only prevalent dangers found in the Internet for child users. MySpace, a popular social networking website, had recently owed up to identifying approximately 29,000 profiles of known sex offenders and deleting these pages. Early 2006, MySpace had also been involved in a police investigation when a RIP message mysteriously showed up on the pages of two Australian teenagers who had committed suicide together.

Family Challenge director and clinical psychologist Dr. Robi Sonderegger pointed out in his blog other possible dangers found in the Internet for kids such as scams leading to exposure to sexual predators or sexually explicit materials, identity theft, fraud, and marketing techniques luring kids toward consumerism.

As if to confirm the presence of online perils for kids, the second Operation Safe Summer launched by agencies from the local, state, and federal fronts were able to successfully arrest 53 individuals guilty of sexually preying on children through the Internet. Although some of the participating agencies held all-year Internet predator stings, the operation concentrated during the summer months when children had more time to spend using the Internet. 

The figure for successful arrests was double the number produced last year due to additional manpower and effort. Individuals caught by the operation include Iraq-based US soldier Gary William West and guilty of child pornography; 19-year-old Steven E. Bianco, found guilty of lewd computer solicitation via the Internet as well as sexual performance and lewd and lascivious battery by and on a child under 16; and lastly, Indiantown-based Randy Charles Harris, found guilty of taking video footage of teenagers he had invited into his home and performing sexual acts.

In the continuing war against online child abuse, parents must not completely depend on authorities to safeguard their children. Proactive action from parents is also crucial to keep children safer while using the Internet.

Many parents around the world aren’t even aware that online dangers exist. Nevertheless, online crimes against children continue to progress and parents must now take immediate steps to address these problems. Installing software that could provide them control over their kids’ use of the Internet even when they’re not around is one of the best steps they can take.

These software programs can be downloaded from the Internet. They offer wide-ranging online safety features that would not only protect and filter their children while online but monitor their activities as well. A well-known Internet safety software program, for instance, provides details about the websites your child has visited as well as what time they’ve visited the website and the amount of time they’ve spent there.

Other products ensure that any image, content, or website deemed unsuitable by the program would be automatically blocked together with restricting access to certain websites and online services like instant messaging and chat rooms. The amount of time spent online may be likewise restricted.

Some of these software programs work together with popular search engines to provide only search engine results that are ascertained to be safe for children. And in cases that the children would attempt to circumvent these restrictions by switching search engine filtering options, a number of these programs are prepared for these instances and would still work.

The great thing about these software programs is their free-trial offers. Trial versions of these programs may be downloaded from the Internet and then purchased online. Different packages are offered so that parents may purchase only what they deemed necessary for their households. Prices for these programs range from six to forty dollars.

Virus protection software programs also offer features that could be used to protect kids from online dangers. Parents with budget concerns may opt to purchase this all-in-one solution instead and just make sure to configure the appropriate settings.

Of course, experts also advise parents to take additional steps besides installing these programs. Mark Gomez, owner of a Utah-based law firm and keynote speaker at a forum entitled “Internet Safety: How to Protect Yourself from Pornography and Sexual Predators”, encouraged parents to familiarize themselves with the online activities of their children such as by learning how social networking websites and chatting sessions work.

In the continuing effort to eliminate child abuse and exploitation, the National Child Protection Week was launched by NAPCAN (National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) in Australia.  The National Child Protection Week activities are just one part of NAPCAN’s projects to promote child-friendly communities around Australia.  Some of its similar campaigns include the annual White Balloon Day and Make Your Street Child-Friendly, which it launched to coincide with the Fatherhood Festival on Father’s Day 2007.

What you can expect from National Child Protection Week Activities
NCPW is a week-long awareness drive to bring child abuse, exploitation and neglect in all areas in Australia.  The activities used in this campaign are designed to educate and inform people about child abuse problems in the country and provide them with the opportunity to participate in positive and preventive actions.

The National Child Protection Week is a public event that was initiated in 1990 with the help of organizations such as the Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, AMA, ABC and Bec Pierce Enterprises.

It remains as one of the most important activities participated in nationwide by communities across Australia.

Students against child abuse
Masters students from the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian peoples of SCU (Southern Cross University) are partnering with NAPCAN and SCU by promoting the STOMP IT campaign (as in Stomp Child Abuse).  The Awareness Carnival will be highlighted by a concert participated in by popular indigenous performers and bands.  Originally scheduled to be held in Sydney, the location was moved to Lismore due to the APEC forum.

Activities
The theme for 2007 is creating Child Friendly Communities, which is a continuation of the theme from the year before.  Individuals, clubs and organizations may get in touch with their local communities or check NAPCAN’s website to find out about the activities that will be held in their particular state. 

Activities include picnics, games, visits, seminars, workshops and community meetings to be conducted by different speakers and clubs.  Topics will include self-esteem and positive body image, general safety, child safety measures and awareness.  Kits, resource packs and workshops will also be provided, along with brochures and poster displays to educate children and adults about online safety and child exploitation.

The child-focused activities may vary depending on the state and locations may also change. 

To learn more about the National Child Protection Week activities, go to NAPCAN’s website at www.napcan.org.au and find out how you can participate or contribute to its efforts to promote the protection of children.

The newest campaign to provide online protection for children against child sex predators is now underway in Lancashire county in northwestern England.  The campaign, called ‘Keep Them Safe’, began after a series of cases involving the sexual grooming of young girls in the area was exposed. 

The cracking of the lid
Jean, a mother of three from Blackburn, had a daughter who was groomed when she was only 14.  Lindsey, which is not her real name, fell victim to a grooming network.  Lindsey is now 16 and although she is in foster care, she is still being used by this sexual exploitation network.  She only communicates to her mother through an occasional e-mail message.

To provide help and support for children and their parents, Jean began the Carers of Sexually Exploited Youths support group, or COSEY.  Her actions helped reveal the extent of this grooming network’s activities and the number of young victims that have fallen into their hands.  This was how the Lancashire Keep Them Safe Campaign started.

Keeping them safe
The campaign, launched by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and supported by the area’s police, community leaders, parents, social services and children’s charities, aims to expose the dangers and actual activities of child sexual exploitation networks and to lobby for increased support both from the government and non-government agencies. 

The campaign, courtesy of the newly-installed Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board or LSCB, has 6 major aims:
- raise public awareness of the sexual exploitation of children and minors
- lobby for the increase of funding for Home Office to help in the apprehension of offenders
- provide a dedicated help line that sexual exploitation victims can use to receive advice and support
- integrate the subject of grooming in the PSHE curriculum in schools
- build an overnight refuge for East Lancashire victims of child sexual exploitation
- create an online service to provide counseling for children and adolescents

(source: www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/keepthemsafe/display.var.857909.0.action_against_sex_predators.php – 35k -)

The race to save young lives
The Keep Them Safe Campaign has placed pressure on many community leaders and local government to solve the problem of child exploitation and prostitution, particularly in East Lancashire.  In 2005, they were able to arrest a 21-year-old man who was grooming a teenage girl from Blackburn using the internet.  The investigation was spearheaded by Operation Engage police officers, which handled child exploitation cases. 

The campaign, parents and police hope, will finally put a stop to the victimization of children and young people.

The Welsh Assembly Government or WAG had identified Ireland as one of the major routes used today by child traffickers as classic routes like bigger London airports and France-originating ferries become more difficult to utilize because of stricter security measures.

This is considered contradicting news to the statement issued by immigration and garda authorities regarding the absence of problem in the state. On the other hand, the WAG report could be considered as confirming the revelations shown by a BBC documentary about an individual that confessed to child trafficking.

Entitled “Safeguarding Children Who May Have Been Trafficked”, the WAG report cites human trafficking as a “modern-day form of slavery”. It details an progressing trend in which UK-bound victims of child trafficking arrive via ferries from Wales or smaller airports.

Migrant Rights Center of Ireland supposes that insufficient legislation in their country could be why child traffickers find their place suitable to their dealings.

In response to the WAG report, a representative of the Justice Minister declared the intention of the government to implement “robust measures” to address the problem of child trafficking, even if they did not believe that the situation was “substantial”.

Another party, however, refutes this and asserts that the Irish government had been cognizant of the problem for at least one and a half years already.

Supporters of the WAG report had also issued their own statements regarding the situation. Stop the Traffik’s Paul Stanley believes that “traffickers will always find the weakest link” and this is how they’ve spotted Ireland as one of the least difficult alternate routes into UK.

The organization Stop the Traffik can boast of uniting over eight hundred groups from fifty nations to protest against human trafficking, a crime that is responsible for enslaving 12.3M people at the very least. Among their numerous achievements include their triumphant petition for the UK government to join a European agreement against human trafficking.

According to the organization, child trafficking victims successfully smuggled into UK would only have futures as beggars, drugs mules, prostitutes, and forced labor to look forward to. Others may have their organs surgically removed.

Stanley pointed out how Vietnamese boys were frequently tasked to work in cannabis factories hidden behind the deceptive facades of suburban homes.

Stop the Traffik urges individuals to support their organization and the fight against human trafficking by boycotting chocolate brands refusing to give their word about not having employed “slave farms” in any part of their manufacturing process.

Internet, online, or cyber crime is still a danger, and numbers are still on the rise, in spite of the measures taken by the government and industry sectors. This unsettling news is confirmed by various studies conducted by well-known organizations.

According to survey made by the 2007 Consumer Reports’ State of the Net, a person faces an approximate 25% risk of becoming a victim of cyber crime. This figure is a bit lower than the figure reported last year, but this may just be the sole bright spot people can look forward to.

Phishing is still a potent threat. Phishing refers to various techniques of utilizing fake email addresses and websites to falsely obtain information from their victims. The CR survey states that phishing victims remain unmoving at 8%. On the other hand, the National Consumer League or NCL puts phishing at sixth place in its 2005’s Internet Fraud Watch program for the number of complaints it had received. And according to a First Data survey conducted on the same year, 43% of their respondents had received phishing mails, with five percent of those requesting for personal information. Half of the phishing victims said that the information they provided was utilized to open an account, make a transaction without their consent, or commit another offense related to ID theft.

Cases of spyware and computer-virus infection were also considered part of the cybercrime problem by the Consumer Reports’ survey. Their research revealed that almost forty percent of their respondents had experienced problems with computer viruses in the past two years, with 1.8M households required to replace their computers. 34% of the respondents disclosed problems with spyware, with 850,000 needing to seek replacements for their PCs. It is interesting to note that quite a small number of Mac users had reported of having similar trouble.

Of course, the prevalence of cyber crime may be partially blamed on the users as well. The CR survey shows that while most households had successfully configured firewall options to block hackers, there is still an estimate number of 3.7M US households who are yet to do the same. 33% of US households didn’t utilize spyware protection while 17% haven’t any antivirus software program installed.

It is virtually the same in the UK. The UK government estimates that victims of online fraud suffered an average loss of £875 in the past 12 months. This may be due to the fact that only 48% of individuals who go online feel they’re responsible for their Internet safety. As for who’s responsible, the 13% of the respondents believe it’s the job of their Internet service provider (ISP) to keep them safe while 16% transfers the responsibility to their banks’ shoulders.

The danger of child sex offenders has only become stronger thanks to technology.  Through exposure to online content and electronic messaging, children and young adolescents are targeted and pursued by sexual predators who think nothing about approaching a child online and soliciting sex.  If you wish to protect your child, here are some tactics you can use against child sex offenders:

Know what they are.
Child sex offenders are pedophiles.  Although some people might want you to consider pedophilia as a mental disorder in the hopes of giving these people a smidgen of understanding, having sex with a child is still considered a crime. 

Child sex offenders come in all races, religions, shapes and sizes.  They can be your neighbor, relative, friend or some innocent looking person who looks like he wouldn’t hurt a fly.  They can also be men who live miles away from where you are and are more than willing to travel just to be with your child.  They will use all means necessary to entice or force your child into having sex with them – persuasion, empathy, sympathy, threat, fear, domination, etc.

Empower your child.
The best tactic to prevent your child from becoming a victim of a child sex offender is to give him or her the right kind of information and resources to protect himself even without you around.  If you think that you can protect your child by not informing them about the dangers of child sex offenders, you’re wrong.  No matter how young, teach your child to mistrust strangers in certain situations and never to accept any help or unusual requests and gifts from unknown people. 

Block any access to child sex offenders.
Another tactic you can use against child sex offenders is to ensure that their way into your home is blocked.  Install child protection settings on your family computer, subscribe to cellphone services that help limit your child’s exposure to inappropriate content and images and constantly monitor your child’s internet and mobile phone usage.

Inform yourself.
In the U.S., a Sexual Offender Database is provided by state law enforcement departments that includes specific information regarding a particular criminal, particularly his record and the type of offense he/she has committed.  Police officers routinely notify neighborhoods and areas if a child sex offender is living nearby through the use of flyers that include the person’s photo and address.  Parents can then use the Sexual Offender Database to confirm information or obtain additional data.

Support the fight against child sex offenders.
Many child sex offenders belong to organized groups and some of them are even involved in active promotion of their practice.  As such, it is even more important that parents, guardians, schools, clubs and concerned individuals offer support to agencies and organizations that help promote safety of children against child sex offenders.  As the methods and techniques of child sex offenders evolve, so should tactics used by parents to fight against these individuals.

In certain areas in the U.K., advice regarding the proper education and care for children to help protect them from online sexual exploitation is being offered to many organizations and clubs.  This initiative is the brainchild of a national child protection organization called Child Safe.

What is Child Safe?
Child Safe is a charity that operates internationally to promote the safe participation of children in school programs, sports, travel and community groups.  The organization aims to provide advice on the care of children and to offer information on safety practices in the aforementioned activities. 

Child Safe originally began in the Somerset and Avon areas of the U.K. by the Constabulary.  It was created to empower children and adolescents, minimize opportunities and situations that might expose them to abuse and improve their care.  This information is included in the organization’s product portfolio which they promote to parents, guardians, volunteers, teachers, school administrators, organizers and children themselves.  Their services include training, seminars, workshops, presentations and consultancy.

Child Safe works in conjunction with the U.K. government’s program Every Child Matters to help create and promote universal safeguards to prevent the exploitation of children and to provide protection for young people who are especially vulnerable.  It also supports schools through the Dept. of Education & Skills or DfES and the Educational Visit Coordinators and Outdoor Education Advisers (websites:  www.teachernet.gov.uk and www.evc-childsafe.co.uk). 

Aside from providing support for parents and other concerned adults, Child Safe also provides systems that young people can use to report any cases of neglect or abuse.  This way, Child Safe will be able to provide early intervention, prevent abuse or further exploitation and help support effective legal investigations.

Educating communities
A series of seminars will be held at different locations to spread information and promote Child Safe’s work and mission.  Beginning September 2007, monthly seminars will be conducted in Minehead, Taunton and Chard free of cost.  A free resource pack will also be given to participating clubs and organizations to help them set up their own measures for child protection using the criteria created by Child Safe.

A copy of the presentation provided at the Child Safe seminars at Somerset may be downloaded in PDF format from the Child Safe website.

For more information about how you and your community can benefit from the programs set by Child Safe, go to their website, www.child-safe.org.uk.  Schedules of seminars are also posted on the site.  Interested parties may get in touch with the administrator at 01823-358098 or send an e-mail through childsafe@somerset.gov.uk. 

There are two forms of child marriages which are practiced in different parts of the world, even in this day and age.  One is the arranged marriage between two children whose parents agree to marry them in the future where children become betrothed until they reach their marriageable age. 

The other practice, which is more widespread, involves the marriage of an adult man to a young child, usually one younger than 15 years old.  Although this is a custom in many parts of the world, it is also practiced illegally in western countries.  As child slaves, children are bought, sold or lent and become subject to physical and sexual abuse.  Children, some of whom are younger than five, become internet and mail order brides, trapped in a child marriage they hardly have the means to escape from. 

The dangers of child marriage
The main danger of child marriage is that the child bride is rendered helpless and powerless against her partner, who is many years older than she is.  She is not given the equal right and opportunity afforded to a more mature spouse in a regular marriage.  Furthermore, her partnership with her husband has been enforced on her – it is not something she herself decided she wanted.

For these reasons, young girls trapped in child marriages become vulnerable both physically and emotionally.  They face sexual abuse and coercion, oftentimes resulting to exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and even AIDS.

Many child brides also become pregnant too early, resulting in birth complications, abortion and even a condition called fistulae.  Their lack of ability to protect themselves against pregnancy, compounded by the absence of access to proper healthcare, only makes their situation worse.  Many of these victims of child marriages fail to survive as a result of childbirth, physical trauma or abuse.  There are child brides who have already been murdered by their husbands.

Young girls who become involved in child marriages also fail to get an education or become gainfully employed.  As such, they become virtual slaves of their husbands, relying on these men for food, shelter and protection.  Unfortunately, many of these girls are divorced, abandoned or sold to prostitution.  Children are forced to live in appalling circumstances and many of them become victims of sex tourism and child pornography.  ()

What is being done?
The UNICEF issued a paper that stated child marriages for girls below 18 deny them of their basic human rights to good health, education, leisure, freedom from discrimination and freedom of expression.  The paper further stated that children’s rights may be ensured by setting the minimum age of marriage at 18 years.

Many programs are also being implemented around the world to protect children against child marriages such as, the Adolescent Development Programme, National Commission for Women’s Amendments to Child Marriage Restraint Act, Plan International, Child Survival India, National Marriage Act of Indonesia and Pathfinder International, among others.