Parents and Guardians

Although the Internet is a helpful tool for students, child predators use it to locate their victims.

A survey1 conducted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children revealed that one in seven youths between the ages of 10 and 17 has received unwanted sexual solicitations online. The survey also indicated that one in three children has experienced unwanted exposed to sexual material on the Internet.

Parents may believe that their child would tell them about such experiences, but surveys have found that most online sexual solicitation and unwanted exposure to sexual material are not reported to parents.

To learn how to keep your children safer, watch the video "Internet Safety: What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Child" and get a copy of the accompanying resource guide. Use the resource guide, and check this website for updates about new developments like MySpace.

Parents, trust your instincts. If you are concerned that your child might be at risk, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) for resources and information.

Roy Cooper

1. David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak. Online Victimization: Five Years Later, Alexandria, Virginia: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2006