![]() Encourage parents to closely monitor their children’s internet involvement, to know who they are meeting and chatting with and to be aware of the social media apps, games, streaming devices and websites they use.Provide resources that help educate and inform parents, grandparents, youth workers and others.Research the problem and then preach, teach, pray and make church leadership, staff and members aware of the dangers of internet predators who prey on children.How can churches identify possible child victims within their congregation and community and help prevent online sexual abuse? They know how to identify the most vulnerable victims and what techniques to use to groom children into taking and sending nude images or videos. The online predator is networked with millions of other like-minded individuals who share with each other their techniques and experiences. One in 25 children will be manipulated or pressured into physical contact with the predators within a year.Īny child who has access to technology is a potential target. Department of Justice, one out of seven children will receive unwanted sexual solicitations on the internet by online predators. In some cases, the predator will blackmail the child, threatening to release and share the explicit photos with the child’s family - a crime called sextortion.Īccording to the U.S. He may also pressure the child to meet him in person. Often the predator will ask the child to make explicit photos or videos of himself or herself and send the images to him. ![]() In these ways, they groom the youngster into a relationship and then steer the conversations toward sex. By using fake profile photos, pretending to share the same interests, offering gifts and jobs, providing a listening ear or complimenting the child, they try to earn the innocent child’s trust. Online predators visit social media websites to contact unsuspecting children. About 90 percent of the predators’ sexual advances are directed at children in internet chatrooms or through instant messaging. According to the F.B.I., more than half of the children targeted are between the ages of 12 and 15. ![]() It’s a scary reality for parents that is becoming more and more common in today’s society.Īn estimated 500,000 online predators actively scan the internet each day to lure and exploit children sexually. To see more stories in this series, click here. In this series, we look at several issues facing America’s endangered youth and offer ways you and your church can help care for the next generation. EDITOR’S NOTE - Across the nation, children and teens are plagued by a host of escalating tragedies.
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