Online Predators: The Danger of Webcams

Technology is a wonderful thing. Think about computers. They can do everything but fry an egg. There is so much software and hardware we can attach to our computers that it's become easier for anyone to access what we do online.With so many new bells and whistles, computers and the Internet have become hunting grounds for child predators. They try to contact your child through your computer and they can use webcams to do it.

Imagine The Jetsons are alive and living in the 21st century. Did you realise that by having a webcam you can actually talk to someone through your computer and see them face to face. Using webcams, children can send their image across cyberspace.

It's new technology so children are curious and excited by it. Sites like You Tube allow all of us to show our videos to the world so if your child makes a webcam of themselves they upload that to You Tube and it will stay there forever. Once uploaded, these videos can be seen by anyone anywhere.

There are some useful reasons for having a webcam.

One useful reason is to allow families to keep in touch with each other. Grandparents can actually see thier children and grandchildren live. Service men and women can also see their families in the flesh. Webcams allow us to see people as they really are. Students can use webcams to access online learning centres and to undertake research.

What's the negative side of Webcams?

When technological development takes us forward someone someone will find an unpleasant or even criminal use for it. Online predators use Webcams to obtain naked images of children in order to satisfy their sexual urges. It's bad enough that they can talk to your children in chatrooms but if your child has a webcam the predator will be able to see them. It really is frightening.

Anyone using a webcam can post their webcam address so it can be located by friends. Young people do this and send it to their friends but then anyone can find access to it. The feed can be tapped into by online predators who make contact with the sender.

The predator doesn't arouse any suspicion. The predator will manipulate your child into believing they are a friend and asking them to use bad language or to dress in particular clothes. Some children will be easily enticed by money to do something they know is naughty but without understanding they are satisfying the person's sexual needs.

Is there any way a parent can protect their child?

The use of the webcam needs to be monitored when a child is using it and rules for its use can be imposed. Keep the webcam in an open area of your house. The bedroom is the worst place to allow your child to use a webcam.

Inform your children that what they post on the Internet can be seen by millions of other people. Your child may not realise that what they think is an innocent act can be misconstrued by others watching them on a webcam. Your child's video can be passed around by the people she sends it to as long as they have a link to the feed.

If our children have not already learned how to make correct decisions we need to help them and guide them in the right direction. If Webcams are not used responsibly they can be easily accessed by online predators but we should still remember that generally they are useful and fun things to share in the family.

Find out more about how you can protect your child on the Internet by downloading a free ebook Stopping Online Predators FAQ