The Crimes Against Children Research Center conducted a study on online predators and how they work on haunting their prey and how naïve children ad tricked and violated. The study is centered on Internet sex crimes involving adults and juveniles, and they categorized it as a form of a crime, particularly statutory rape – adult offenders take advantage on underage teenagers by seducing them.
This form of crime has become a serious problem all over the world, especially with the rise of social media, where predators can easily pose as someone else and lure their unsuspecting victims, The study also emphasized the role of parental control and the dangers that children are exposed to in divulging personal information online.
The study also pushed the ‘developmentally appropriate prevention strategies’ that directly targets the teen and emphasize on healthy sexual development and the importance of avoiding tricks employed by opportunistic predators. It suggests teens to be more aware of such tricks and development of skills to avoid falling for them, and at the same time, educate older youth on the pitfalls and dangers of having a relationship with adults and their criminal nature.
There are particular set of things the youth should watch out for, especially those with patterns of offline and online risk taking, sexual orientation issues, and those with histories of sexual abuse.
- Be clear on why sex with underage is wrong.
- Emphasize on prevention efforts on teens, less on parents, and on issues relevant to young adults, including their autonomy and view on romance and sex.
- Emphasize more on interactive aspects of the use of Internet and less on posting personal information online.
- Educate teens about child pornography and criminal behavior.
- Develop a targeted approach for prevention.
- Pattern assessment of risky online behavior.