Thursday, September 01, 2005

Web site arms parents, schools against online child predators - Ruth-Ellen Cohen

"Parents would never allow a sexual predator into their child's bedroom, but they don't think twice about having the computer in the bedroom with no supervision," she said. "And that's the same thing."

According to the NetSmartz Web site, a recent national survey of children ages 10-17 shows that:

. Approximately one in five have received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet in the last year.

. One in four had an unwanted exposure to pictures of naked people or people having sex in the last year.

. One in 17 was threatened or harassed.

. Less than 10 percent of sexual solicitations and only 3 percent of unwanted exposure episodes were reported to authorities such as a law-enforcement agency, an Internet Service Provider, or a hot line.

SAFETY NET FOR CHAT ROOMS

Woking News & Mail Online - British Newspapers - Woking Newspapers - Surrey Newspapers: "ST JOHN’S resident Alison McCoy is launching a breakthrough internet safety programme for children throughout England after its successful introduction in her native Scotland."