One of the most frightening things you could ever experience is an unsolicited sexual solicitation. The internet has become a breeding ground for these types of solicitations, and the amount of people it affects is staggering. Did you know that over one in 10 children have received an unsolicited sexual solicitation? That statistic alone should be enough to make any parent worry about their child’s safety while they are on the internet. To help protect your family, here are seven unsettling facts and statistics about internet solicitation.
1. Over One in 10 Children Have Received an Unsolicited Sexual Solicitation
This is undoubtedly the most chilling statistic of them all. It’s bad enough that a sexual predator could target anyone of any age, but it is unconscionable for it to happen to children. The fact that there are people out there who would take advantage of children in this way is sickening.
2. Most Victims Are Girls
While sexual predators can target boys and girls, most victims are girls. This is likely because girls are more often taught to be cautious about stranger danger than boys. When many people picture a sexual predator, they tend to imagine a middle-aged man lurking in the shadows and targeting young girls, but this isn’t always the case. Keeping your child cautious about internet solicitation is important no matter their age or gender.
3. It’s Completely Free and Easy for a Predator to Reach Victims
This is one of the most disturbing facts about internet solicitation. It is completely free for predators to create profiles on social media to attempt to reach out to children, and it’s easy because anyone can make a profile under any name they choose. They have to find someone they are interested in, and they can begin to chat.
4. Predators Often Use False Identities
One of the ways that predators try to lure in their victims is by using false identities. They might create a profile that looks like a child their age or claim to be someone famous or in a position of authority. This can make it difficult for children to determine whether the person they are talking to is safe or not.
5. Predators Use a Variety of Tactics to Gain Victims’ Trust
Predators often use a variety of tactics to gain the trust of their victims. They might start by sending flattering messages or gifts and then gradually move to more personal topics. They might pretend to be in a relationship or even claim to have feelings for their victim. As you can see, the tactics are varied, and this is why it’s so important for parents to stay vigilant.
6. Once You Meet Another Child Online, It Doesn’t Mean They Are Safe
One of the reasons it’s so easy for predators to target children is that most kids are very trusting. They think that by meeting another child online, they are safe. However, this isn’t always the case. Predators can be very good at what they do, and preying on those who trust them is easier than you might think.
7. It Can Often Be Misunderstood
One of the most confusing types of internet solicitation is when children receive inappropriate pictures from adults or other children. This can be very difficult for parents and children because often, it’s not easy to determine why this happened in the first place. It can often be misunderstood, which is why prevention is so vital.
Conclusion
These seven facts and statistics about internet solicitation should be enough to make any parent worry about their child’s safety while they are on the internet. However, there are things that parents can do to help protect their children. By being vigilant and having open conversations with their kids, parents can help keep them safe from predators. If such an incident occurs it is good to get in touch with a sex crime attorney.
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