For many young people this Christmas, the gifts under the tree will include a tech gadget or two — maybe a new phone, maybe a new video game system. Some of them may rush up to their rooms and immediately get connected to the internet, social media or others playing the same video game half a world away.
Parents and guardians must prepare them for how to make those connections safely, as the virtual world contains many more real dangers than they will encounter in a school library or public restroom.
In the virtual world, there lurk individuals such as the 34-year-old Benwood, W.Va., man who court documents say admitted to going into chat rooms and pretending to be a 17-year-old male so he could talk to minors. Ryan Bobby Schnettler faces 20 years in prison after also admitting to possessing child pornography. His phones included not only those images, but screenshots of his chats with minor females.
In Parkersburg, a coach is alleged to have contacted players via text and by playing video games with them online. Dwain Sponseller, 40, is awaiting trial on charges of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust.
These are just a couple of examples of horrifying cases all over the world. And these are two about which we are aware. They are at front-of-mind because they happened here in the Mountain State, but the truth is, these crimes can be committed from anywhere.
Should your child be receiving a gift that will put them online this season, do not fail to give them the tools to protect themselves and make good decisions.
Because the internet is filled with good things as well as bad, there are many online safety resources to choose from. Here is just one: kidshealth.org/en/kids/online-id.html
Dig around. Find the one that makes the most sense for helping you talk with your child.
And then talk to your child.
We want to give them everything. Give them the gift of being connected — safely — this season, too.
This post was originally published on here
