Since the pandemic, going to school and doing other activities they have been diverted online by using laptops or cellphones. This means children spend more time in front of screens. But in fact, there is a danger lurking, namely online predators.
A report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released to CBS News revealed they had received 29.3 million reports of alleged child sexual exploitation in 2021, a 35% increase from 2020 and an all-time high.
"Predators recognize that there will be more hours online where teens and children will be unsupervised, and they encourage each other to take advantage of that opportunity," said John Shehan, vice president of the Exploited Children Division. (17/3/2022).
Nearly all of the 29 million tips came from telephone and social media companies, which are legally required to report possible illegal images to national centers. Last year, they received more tips about video breaking the law than still images.
It is told by a presenter from the United States, Alicia Kozak, that she was abducted by an online predator at the age of 13. His abduction sparked a national manhunt. Kozak was taken from his Pittsburgh home to a basement in Virginia where he was abused before being rescued by law enforcement agents.
More than a decade later, Kozak, who promotes internet safety, told CBS News that predators are realizing children across America now have greater access to phones and computers at a younger age.
"If a predator tries to target a kid in a park, or in a mall or somewhere, a school, something like that, they really have very few chances. Whereas on the internet, they could just as easily close that chat box and close that app. and go to the next victim," he said.
Kozak says parents need to do more than just pick up kids' gadgets.
They should monitor what their children are doing online. They should pay attention and I know you may look like it's violating their privacy, but you really aren't. You keep them safe.