Ohio teen Jessica Logan had her whole life ahead of her, but one snap of a camera phone changed her life forever: that one image — meant for only her boyfriend at the time — would have deadly ramifications.  Jessica’s parents say she took her own life in her bedroom after the racy photo was leaked around her school, and she had been harassed for months.  Now, Jessica’s parents are stepping out, trying to launch a national campaign to educate parents and teens about the dangers of “sexting.”  Sexting is when someone sends a sexual message and/or revealing photos to others.  It some cases, it starts out by kids sending a picture message to a boyfriend or girlfriend, but what they don’t realize is that picture is usually passed on, quickly, from person to person – and it can linger online forever. Continue reading Are Your Teens Aware Of The Dangers Of “Sexting”? »

While there are hundreds of millions of people who use social networks, some of these are sex offenders who have used the web sites to target children.  How can you as a parent help protect your kids from these threats? For a start, it’s helpful for parents to be aware of the potential profile of who really might be talking to your kids. A study from the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire found that, in most cases:

• Online sex offenders are looking for teens and do not lie about their age.
• They aren’t generally posing as a teen, but take their time in establishing a teens trust through repeated and intimate communication, in hopes of leading to sex.
• Many have previously been charged with nonviolent statutory rape.

The targets of these sex predators tend to know they are communicating with an adult. In many cases, their vulnerability increases when there is a history of abuse at home, depression, and general risky behavior. Continue reading Knowing What Threats Your Teens Face Online »

Valerie K: I met someone on an Internet dating site late August, and fell head over heels with this man. Long story short, I am the most gullible individual in the world. He has taken approximately $15K from me over time until about a month ago, as I kept him close thinking I could find somebody that could help me, but I am disabled.  I thought this person was legitimate, but he has taken money I needed for surgery and to pay bills, as I don’t make too much per month. How could I have known?

JW: If you become involved with someone through the Internet, remember that you do not know the person, no matter how much you chat online, and no matter how much they sweet-talk you. Con artists are able to trick unsuspecting people into thinking they are interested in a long-term relationship, and over time they gain your trust and use that trust to rip you off.  I’m sorry that’s happened to you. We turned to The National Consumers League for some tips on how to spot what they call a “sweetheart swindler,” and here’s what they came up with Continue reading How Can I Avoid Online Dating Scammers? »

Michelle K: My daughter is 13 years old. Despite all of my efforts to keep her from setting up pages on websites with pictures and details about herself, she continues to find more sites that I am unaware of to set up pages on. I have talked myself blue in the face, made her watch several of your programs on predators and others. Still, for some reason, she will not listen to me. How do I get her to see how serious this all is?

JW: Believe me, Michelle, many parents are fighting this battle with their teenagers. Fortunately, you have a very powerful ally. You can’t keep your kids off of the Internet, but The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers some great online resources with information that’s not only helpful for parents, but produced with graphics and language that will appeal to kids, too. You can access these resources at NetSmartz.org, NetSmartTeenz.org and 4NetSafety.com. The websites use videos and interactive games that help open the lines of communication, and help kids understand how dangerous the Internet can be if they’re not careful.