Tweens And Teens Vulnerable On The Net
Posted by: From Arkansas in Family stuff, My Take on Things on Jul 21 2008
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It is an incredibly scary thing that tweens and teens have decided to put more and more information about themselves out on the net. The predators are well aware of this and are cashing in on that by contacting them more and more. Most vulnerable seem to be the tweens, ages 8-12, who seem to think that parents and guardians don’t know what they’re talking about when it comes to the internet.
From the standpoint of a child, it must seem safe to sit at a computer screen and not see the other person talking. They tend to believe what that person is saying regardless of who they are. The child does not know this person much of the time. I truly believe that they think the person is a kid about their age and that parents are just saying “no” like they always do about everything. Tweens and teens do not believe anything bad will happen to them. I know that because I had the same reaction at that age.
Big problem here! These children and teens are at risk for some extremely unpleasant things that could happen in their lives. We see so often on the news, those who did not believe that dangers lurk on the net. They did not believe that the person on the other end is lying to them. This is a “friend” that’s not going to hurt them. Parents are just being mean to them if they say no.
The reality is that these children and teens are going to be awakened in the hardest ways possible but by then, it’s too late, sometimes fatally. I do know that they will not believe this. What does it take to get through to one of these at risk people? To answer that question, I have to go back to my Christian roots since that is the only answer I have. God will step in when asked. He will protect the children and teens. You may not like the way He does this but He will do so. Other than that, I have no answers.
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2 Comments
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I agree with you
kids have revealed soo much info online that it is way too easy to get in touch with them
I have heard many cases of kidnapping jus coz of the info which the kidnappers got from their online profiles..
someone needs to tighten up the situation
And who is going to tighten the situation? The parents should be keeping watch over what the kids are doing online but they do not. Sometimes the teen lays this guilt thing on them. “Oh man, don’t you trust me? I might as well forget it then.” At which point, the parents SHOULD say “Okay, you can forget it.” Instead, most will give in to the guilt trip that teen gives them. That way they are all set for whatever they choose to get into.
Yes, it does need to tighten but I am wondering just who would do that? If the parents are not doing it, who would? I’m sorry but there are no teen online police to watch over all teens that are in chat rooms, bulletin boards or whatever else is going on. Officials cannot possibly police all of that. The sites aren’t going to do that either because they cannot tell who is under age and who is not.
Tell me, you have no idea what age I am, do you? From previous comments, you might think that I am older but I could just be a smart younger person who is gaming you. I could be someone who is telling you all sorts of lies. I could be. Someone else might check out whatever page you have up and go after you. Actually, I have no interest in that. In fact, I am quite opposed to such things. Yet, the kids are giving out all sorts of info that really never goes away even if they erase it since it’s been out there for a while.
The danger to the tweens and teens is very real. Too many kids end up hurt or dead because they kept it a secret and went to meet the one they chatted with online. That is SOOOOO dangerous.
And remember, you do not know who I am regardless of what you may think. Thanks for your comments.