How to Avoid Online Predators
One of the challenges in keeping children safe from online predators is that kids are sometimes willing participants. Predators learn how to identify potential prey among children who are bored, curious, lonely, or insecure. Many kids find it easier to talk to people on the web than in real life, and to trust people they have never met in person. There are a few basic rules that every student needs to know about online conduct and protecting themselves from online predators. They should:
- Make sure their screen names don't reveal too much about them; for example, their screen names should not include clues to their real name, age, hobbies, or other information that predators can use.
- Keep PII (personally identifiable information) private. That includes their name, school, Social Security number, address, age, birthday, phone number, and the names of their friends or family members.
- Watch what information they share indirectly, such as their school mascot, when their favorite band played in the area, or any other information predators could use to figure out where they live.
- Chat online only with people they know in the real world, such as friends from school and community groups, or members of their family.
Make sure your students understand that if they don't know someone in the real world, then they don't know them. Period. Giving out too much information to someone they met online is gambling with their lives. If they feel threatened or are unsure what to do, they need to know that they can talk to their parents, go to the police, or come to you for help.
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