One threat to children's safety is right up under our noses -- and theirs, and we welcome it like a cuddly puppy
Contributed By:Dorothy Nevils
Facing the kids (or) Faceoff
“Awww… Look at ’im! Isn’t he cute? Look at Gramma’s little man,” Grandma coos, the words escaping pursed lips like iridescent bubbles from a giggling child’s wand on a windy summer day. “He’s so cute,” and she gathers him in her arms. He wriggles free and moves out of reach, eyes glued to his cell phone.
And so begins the venture into a world seemingly harmless, a world that will take him further and further away from the one person who loves him more than she thought she could ever love anyone, the little piece of herself on whom she dotes. Her mouth holds that smile of admiration, and her eyes, soft as the animal shapes she had pointed to seemingly just last week, hang on him as though glued to the already disappearing star of her universe.
Younger and younger children are being sucked into cyberspace, and those closest to them watch with nary a clue about the wilderness they enter, a wilderness where, comparatively speaking, dropped bread crumbs offer more assurance...
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to be aware of dangers that threaten children. However, one threat to children’s safety is right up under our noses – and theirs, and we welcome it like a cuddly puppy. In fact, those who dote on children are the ones responsible for putting the monster in their hands, then walking out of the room.
Without proper supervision, a cell phone can easily be turned into a weapon, tracking and posting locations, and enabling perverts to pull innocent children into sex trafficking. Parents don’t realize how easy it is for those up to no good to track their children’s every move, or for children to divulge their parents’ whereabouts by an innocent conversation with a classmate.
Then there are the fun things that kids and teens do with their phones, things like Snapchat, which allows them to send messages and pictures that last 10 seconds, then disappear. This can lead kids to be more daring, sending pictures they wouldn’t post on Facebook. However, a screen shot can capture the picture, making it available for the other party for as long as that person wants, and even passing copies around at school.
Another favorite of today is cyber bullying. Your child can be a victim, or may be tempted to victimize someone else, neither of which should be taken lightly, and either of which can lead to death.
Children may not understand that once something is posted on the Internet, it will be available indefinitely, and to people they don’t even know. Information posted at 15 will be available years later when it can damage their reputation, popping up when they are mature and applying for a serious position.
Children, and some adults, don’t realize the dangers of social media. It’s your job as an adult to set limits. Invade their “privacy.” Plant yourself right there between them and danger.
These are just a few reasons that you need to take the job of parenting seriously. Monitor your child’s social media activity. Be informed. Learn all you can about social media. You cannot be chicken about what they see as spying. As a parent, or an adult who loves them deeply, you have to take that risk.
Story Posted:04/07/2017
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