Fears of Internet predators unfounded, study finds

[DeclinetoState]

WASHINGTON — A lot of parental worries about Internet sex predators are unjustified, according to new research by a leading center that studies crimes against children.

<!-- story_videobox.comp --><!-- /story_videobox.comp --> "There's been some overreaction to the new technology, especially when it comes to the danger that strangers represent," said Janis Wolak, a sociologist at the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

"Actually, Internet-related sex crimes are a pretty small proportion of sex crimes that adolescents suffer," Wolak added, based on three nationwide surveys conducted by the center.

Two of the surveys contacted 3,000 Internet users aged 10-17 in 2000 and again in 2005. The third sums up findings from 612 interviews with investigators at a nationally representative sample of agencies that deal with Internet sex crimes involving children.
More (http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/28029.html)

[ColonialMarine0431]

Suspicions confirmed. I've always felt the "danger" of OP's ("Online Predators")has been overblown. It makes for good "news", but in reality junior stands a better chance of dying a car crash.

[Taylor1]

Well, not exactly. I know of A TON of places they hang out on... how do I know this...? Well, a while ago I use to hunt them down, and make them I guess stop.
Well I'm not gonna go into detail. But well, I've weeded them out of a lot of places along with a pedo task force I use to hang out with. It was funny. These people would get their phone numbers (not me) and like prank call them and stuff it was freaking hilarious. Most of myspace, has gotten rid of the OP's as CM says lol. Its fine that the media is making a bigger deal out of it than it should be, then people will be a little more cautious than usual.

[DeclinetoState]

Better safe than sorry.

[Air Force Guy]

"Actually, Internet-related sex crimes are a pretty small proportion of sex crimes that adolescents suffer," Wolak added, based on three nationwide surveys conducted by the center.
Yeah, because not all teens are interested/skilled in internet use...or don't have an internet connection...nor computer to connect with. Teens that have the hookup are not all LOOKING for questionable activities. Amazingly enough, some teens just use the internet for research or online gaming without socializing there.

It's not too scientific as a finding unless you give all teens a relatively limitless internet connection...and force them to attempt to use it in a wreckless manner.

[Taylor1]

Umm, AFG, you should see people on the internet, they give out their information left and right like obama with promises to America if he becomes president.

[PrezLeefun]

I dont think they are overblown at all. The real bottom line is that law hasn't caught up to the net.

And child predators arn't stupid, and thus find new ways to commit crimes and engage in activities that hide their true purpose.

[Lubbock]

Better safe than sorry.

BINGO!!!

You can believe, any time my grandchildren are on the internet, I'm going to be close enough to keep a close watch.

[TeenageRepublican]

There are internet predators all over. Now, with agents going as teenage girls on the web, you just don't who to trust.

That's why I don't like AIMing that much. It's just too creepy. I prefer forums over those.

[Taylor1]

There are internet predators all over. Now, with agents going as teenage girls on the web, you just don't who to trust.

That's why I don't like AIMing that much. It's just too creepy. I prefer forums over those.

I give people I don't know an interrogation, (waterboarding is sometimes involved) and I make sure they are who they say they are if I'm suspicious of them.

[Air Force Guy]

Umm, AFG, you should see people on the internet, they give out their information left and right like obama with promises to America if he becomes president.
I don't doubt it. In spite of the regular discussions that teach them not to do so...I'm sure it happens. Can't tell most teens a darn thing when they think they're the expert at the subject (which is pretty much everything)

[Taylor1]

I don't doubt it. In spite of the regular discussions that teach them not to do so...I'm sure it happens. Can't tell most teens a darn thing when they think they're the expert at the subject (which is pretty much everything)

Well yes. I can't tell you how easy it is to go onto a chatroom full of kids, and say your 16 years old when you could be 56 years old you know what I'm saying..

[DesertFox]

I don't think they're at all unfounded, either. I think this study reflects just how clever these fiends are at cloaking themselves. You can live with one and not know it if they're not messing with you.

[DoctorDoom]

This is from a DD post on a homework help board in 2000. Scott and Mindy owned the board, and lived in Kansas City, KS. The details have doubtless changed, but they were accurate when it was posted.

Here's an all-too-common scenario, presented for the enlightenment and benefit of ALL our young members.

A trusting kid strikes up a friendship on a chat-room, or via ICQ or AIM. After a while, he or she gets talked into revealing certain things that seem perfectly harmless, like the name of their school, a local sports team, a mall in the town, or a favorite radio station.

Using the info and a few seemingly casual questions, the "friend" narrows down the home town of the unsuspecting kid and claims that, lo and behold, he/she lives in the very same town. Eventually, the "friend" asks to meet somewhere so they could have a personal chat. They set up a time and day, the kid goes off to meet the new "friend", and winds up getting molested and even murdered.

The monsters have driven hundreds of miles to do their evil deeds to the kids.

Always remember that the Web is an anonymous medium of communication. The person on the other end of a chat can make any claims they want about who and what they are. The perverts are very good at that. And, the kids have no idea at all that they're communicating with someone who wants to do them great harm.

This is not intended to turn you good kids into paranoids, but merely to clue you in about what to look for that might indicate that your chat "friend" is not what he or she seems to be.

Be alert for any unusual interest in information that would help to pin down where you live - and as noted above, it doesn't require your identifying your town by name.

<hr>
Now for an example. In the course of a friendly, lively chat, you might say that you like to listen to KQRC. With just that information and a few minutes on the web, the person could find out that you live in or near Kansas City, KS, and that you like rock music. He then drops a few names like Wes Jeffries, Jacki Rae and Ryan Westward who work at "The Rock 98", to indicate that he lives in the same area. He might even be listening in to their webcast as he's chatting, so you can discuss what's playing at that moment.

Perhaps the "friend" will ask where you buy your music, and tell you that there's a terrific selection at Waves Music in the Great Mall (having called the store to see what's available). If you're a KC teenager, you'll most likely know the mall, if not the specific shop, but it's there.

Now let's pin down things a bit more. Let's say you've revealed that you're 13 years old. That puts you in middle school, 8th grade. In Kansas City there are eight middle schools, so your "friend" will ask, "Do you think the Northwest girl's basketball team will be the champs this year?" An innocent enough question, but leading into your revealing, for example, that you go to Coronado Middle School by saying that they'll kick Northwest's team off the court. Now the person has a rough geographic area within the city for you, because Coronado is at 1735 N. 64th Terrace.

The next question might be, "Ever been to Welborn Park? I hang out there once in a while. My grandma lives on Haskell Avenue."

Etcetera etcetera.

Now you just know this "friend" lives near you. How else would he/she know all this stuff? How indeed!

I live in Massachusetts, half the country away from Kansas City. It took about twenty minutes with a search engine and a city map website to find out this info and a lot more about Kansas City. No doubt Scott and Mindy can verify the accuracy of the information, which is why I picked KC as the target city and looked up its radio stations as the "clue" for zeroing in on the hypothetical KC teen.

I used the same techniques that are available to any sexual predator with a computer and a web connection (and by definition this is anyone using chat rooms, ICQ and AIM).

This, dear young people, is why you MUST be careful about what you say on the web. It might be the most innocent of comments, but the degenerates out there will look for any clue, no matter how subtle, to help them zero in on their next victim.

The Web can be great fun, but alertness is the best defense against its becoming your worst enemy.

[Air Force Guy]

I imagine that police stings are quite easy in this regard....because the door swings both ways on the internet incognito thing.