Rogério COPETO (Opinion): PREDADORES ONLINE
Using a simple analogy to realize, surf the internet can be compared to navigate a vast ocean, aboard a small vessel rowing, where during our trip are numerous dangers, but also those who help us and even making friends along the way.
Rogério COPETO
Lieutenant Colonel of the GNR, Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
Head of the Education Division / Command of the Doctrine and Training
These form, the "Internet Dangers" can be explained to children, indicating the benefits and harms of internet, comparing browsing the internet, with navigation in a vast unknown ocean, using only a small boat rowing, where you can find numerous dangers, since "pirates" to massive "sea monsters".
The internet has good things and bad things, and some very bad, and to be conveniently used, as a sailor uses the sea and needs to have nautical knowledge to handle your boat, Also children need to have knowledge, to escape the "pirates" and "sea monsters", they encounter on the Internet.
Our children were born and live in a digital world and they all have access to electronic devices from an early age, either at home or at school, for them to be, the computer and the internet is no problem, Unlike much of adults. They have at their disposal all the information with just one clik, either via computers at home, or through the smartphones or tablets in the street, with internet access, that the parental generation, could only have, When they moved to a library.
So we all agree that the benefits of the internet are numerous, with respect to the damage, not all are for them awake.
Today it is normal for our children have a computer in the room, where they spend hours and hours, in "conversations" with friends(as), making use of so-called "social networks", are the facebook, youtube, twitter, skype or any other.
For all parents, the safety of their children, It continues to be a priority today, like yesterday, but whereas in the past the dangers were clearly identified, now identify the dangers to which our children are subject, It is not always easy.
Today a child in your room at home, It is subject to a much larger set of dangers, than in the past, when children spent their time on the street to play with friends and neighbors, often without their parents know very well what your location.
The group has always protected its members and a child today, alone in your room, making use of the internet, It is subject to numerous dangers, no opportunity to defend himself and unable to rely on the group of friends for help, as they did in the past, When in the street helped each other.
Today the dangers of internet take various forms, such the "pirates" and "sea monsters", They are in fact the "inappropriate content", the "online gaming addiction", "identity theft" and "cyberbullying", not to mention the "virus", the "Trojan horses", no “phishing” e no “spyware”, that abound on the Internet. But the greatest danger to our children using social networks are the "online predators".
Social networks allow "online predators" from entering the rooms of our children, in a manner which before was unthinkable. Today, our children, who spend much of their free time to the computer, run enormous risks, if your parents do not warn, supervise and control what they post online, being that nothing is placed on the Internet is confidential and so little can erase.
The "online predators" use social networks to harass children, is female, is male, always with the aim of them molesting.
Harassment often begins with a lie, a picture of striking profile and an innocent friend request. The "online predator" mind in relation to age and usually only after compromising photos of children, is that confront, threatening them with the release of photos, if they contain someone.
After falling into the trap, It is very difficult to escape from the clutches of "online predator" without help from parents, teachers or authorities. Children succumb to pressure and end up contact personally with the "online predator", where anything can happen, and then it's too late ...
Only prevention can prevent physical and psychological trauma that will never be late or exceeded.
Near 15% of Portuguese children have been victims of sexual harassment on the Internet, but there will be many more who suffer in silence and denounce anything.
Parents and guardians at the first sign that something is happening, They should try to understand its origin, and the problem may be in the use of internet.
So, children are called upon to ask help from an adult (parents, authorities or teachers) and parents and guardians are called upon not to allow their children to provide personal data, should use the internet to be monitored, know their e-mail addresses or share the same for the whole family, which social networks they use and never respond to messages from strangers.
If all else fails and the child eventually come into contact with an "online predator", not blame the child and immediately report this fact to the authorities, providing all documents, including e-mail addresses, addresses of websites and records.
On safety on the Internet, educating for safety is "set rules", "Accompany children", “estar atento aos sinais” e “comunicar”.
