College football star Manti Te’o likely will suffer just personal embarrass-ment after the girlfriend he supposedly met online did not really exist. The same cannot be said for the teenagers who met Richard L. Finkbiner online.
Finkbiner has agreed to plead guilty to sexual exploitation of minors. Federal authorities say Finkbiner would visit anonymous video chat websites where he deceived teenagers into conducting sexually inappropriate behaviors that he secretly recorded. Finkbiner then allegedly threatened to post those images digitally unless the teens allowed him to record more explicit behaviors.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports 42 percent of 7th-9th graders reported communicating with at least one online stranger in the last year. In addition, one-third of children have experienced unwanted exposure to sexual material online, and 14 percent of youth 10-17 years old have received unwanted sexual solicitations online.
“Online predators currently seek out minors who are already engaging in risky behavior using online social networking sites and ‘anonymous’ chat websites,” said Joe Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, whose office prosecuted Finkbiner. “In almost every case, the predator used online attention, affection and gifts to victimize the minors.
“The key to solving this problem is for parents to understand the scope of the challenge and become involved in a minor’s Internet social networking at an early age,” Hogsett added. “Street-smart minors, with involved parents, stay safe.”
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller recommends the free information and resources available at www.netsmartz.org. And Walt Mueller, whose Center for Parent Youth Understanding hosts the Digital Kids Initiative (www.digitalkidsinitiative.com), recommends the web filter Covenant Eyes.
But Mueller says filters do not guarantee online safety. Parents, he says, should assume their kids are going to encounter sexually explicit content or activity online, and handing technology to a child does not mean handing your parental duties to technology.
“It’s pretty simple,” Mueller said. “Set limits. Kids need limits.”
For example, parents can purchase password protected technology and keep computers where screens can be viewed at any time. Set a daily time limit for online activity, and increase the limit with age as parents see fit. In addition, set a curfew to turn off technology for the day. Importantly: no talking to strangers.
Mueller also encourages parents to join their kids online and stay ahead of the technology curve.
“Kids are always going to look for someplace to go where parents are not. We need to stay informed on what’s happening in the youth culture and know where our kids are because that changes almost daily.”
Locking the doors of our homes is much easier than guarding the doorways to cyberspace. Staying involved with kids online offers the highest return on Internet safety.
Bill Stanczykiewicz is President & CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute. He can be reached at iyi@iyi.org.
Opinion
Columnist: Keeping kids safe online
- Opinion
-
-
Scammers seek to profit
Ensure your money gets into the hands of Oklahoma residents who really need it.
-
Show flag etiquette
Fly your flag throughout the year -- and at half-staff from sunrise to noon on Memorial Day. But when you do, please treat it with respect.
-
House of Burgess: 5 arguments against impeachment
Having lost the most recent election to Barack Obama, certain foes of the president looking for another chance at regime change have decided 2016 is too far away.
-
Would you pay extra?
If Kokomo residents truly want citywide tornado sirens, they'll gladly pay a one-time fee for them.
-
Prepared for a disaster?
Put together a disaster plan and make sure everyone in your family knows what the plan is.
-
Move over, Ind. drivers
Keep highway and utility workers safe; remember to pull over for utility vehicles.
-
May 18, 2013: Cheers & Jeers
Commissioner earns respect of inmates
Kyle Stacy sends this Cheer for Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman:
-
House of Burgess: The revolution will be printed
Another major milestone in the history of 3D printing was reached earlier this month when Cody Wilson, director of the nonprofit Defense Distributed, announced he had conducted the first-ever successful test firing of a completely 3D-printed gun in (where else?) Texas. Wilson then uploaded the plans online. These files were then downloaded over 100,000 times over the next 48 hours. That was, until the State Department intervened.
-
Hayden: From good to great in education
On the campaign trail last year and early into his administration, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said repeatedly that his goal as governor would be to take Indiana from “good to great.”
-
Mom’s simple advice still presents a valuable challenge
Most moms don’t base their advice on scientific research. Instead, their words of wisdom come from a greater source — the heart, where they store and process life experiences. Unfortunately, some folks don’t receive the gift of maternal guidance, for various reasons.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Scammers seek to profit
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
