Keeping Our Digital Children Safe

By Tracey Dowdy
The recent death of 13 year-old Nicole Madison Lovell was a terrible tragedy. A cancer and liver transplant survivor, Nicole lost her life after chatting with strangers on social media and then apparently arranging to meet an 18 year old man through the messaging app Kik. Two Virginia Tech students have been charged in connection with Nicole’s death.
Unfortunately, Nicole’s story is not unique. From the time our children are small we warn them of “stranger danger.” As they get older and become active online, we caution them about the risks of talking to strangers via social media. But according to Pew Research, six out of ten teens say they have at least one friend that they’ve met online and one-third say they’ve gone on to meet that friend in person. Those are sobering statistics.
That teens engage in risky behavior should not be a surprise to anyone. Temple University psychology professor Laurence Steinberg says, “The teenage brain is like a car with a good accelerator but a weak brake. With powerful impulses under poor control, the likely result is a crash.”
Impulse control stems from the frontal lobe of our brain which isn’t fully developed until around age 25, so when teens experience peer pressure or extreme emotions they’re less likely to consider the long-term consequences of their actions.
Pair that lack of judgment with online predators and we have the tragic story of a child like Nicole. She had allegedly been the victim of bullying at school; a situation many experts say can make a teen even more vulnerable to online predators.
Commander of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force David Frattare says, “Kik is the problem app of the moment,” primarily because the user’s identity is protected. Although the app asks for the user’s real name and email address, Kik works even if they’re fictitious and the app doesn’t require a phone number.
Kik is similar to text messaging but more private. It’s free, allows unlimited messaging, gives users the ability to insert gifs and a variety of emoji’s, and, best of all to many teens, most parents have no idea it exists. However your kids know about it: according to Kik’s website, the app is used by 40 percent of American teens.
Unlike some other messaging apps, written messages on Kik can’t be viewed by outsiders or shown to the police and images or videos are only retained until they’re opened on the recipient’s device. In a case like Nicole’s where there is a court order, Kik can provide law enforcement with a log of a user’s activity and in some cases an IP address, though with 275 million registered users worldwide it’s no small task to sift through the information.
Where does this leave parents? First of all, don’t panic. Although Kik is one of many social media platforms that are being exploited by predators, it’s important not to overreact and take away all your child’s devices. Professor David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, warns us not to become “technophobic.” Remember it’s character, not technology, that makes children and teens vulnerable. Kids who are socially isolated, bullied, struggle with depression, or don’t get along with parents and caregivers are those most at risk.
But how do we protect our children against online predators? Well, there are some excellent mobile phone monitoring apps that can help you control how your child’s phone is used. But remember, no app or parental control can substitute for an open and honest conversation with your kids. Educate them about the risks and long term consequences of interacting with strangers online. Remind them that someone presenting themselves as a peer could easily be a predator and that spur of the moment decisions can sometimes lead to tragic long-term consequences.
Author’s Note: Kik is cooperating fully with law enforcement in the Lovell case. They sponsor an annual conference on crimes against children, as well as providing a law enforcement guide on their website to assist in the prevention of child exploitation.
Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.
Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and
wished to mention that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I
hope you write again very soon!
I am curious to find out what blog system you have been using?
I’m experiencing some minor security issues with my latest website and I would like to find something more safeguarded.
Do you have any suggestions?
Hello, Neat post. There is a problem along with your website in web explorer,
might check this? IE still is the market leader
and a good part of folks will leave out your fantastic writing because of this problem.
my webpage :: buy a stone rotating drum
I have a lot of ways toto find a easy way to start a online business so please come check me
out to get awesome value also
OMG! This is amazing. Ireally appreciate it~ May I give my hidden information on a secret only I KNOW and if you want to with no joke truthfully see You really have to believe mme and have faith and I will show how to get connected to girls easily
and quick Once again I want to show my appreciation and may all the blessing goes to you now!.
I used to be recommended this web site via my cousin. I’m no longer positive
whether or not this submit is written by way of him as no one else understand such designated approximately my trouble.
You’re incredible! Thanks!
I have learn some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting.
I wonder how much effort you place to make one of these wonderful informative
website.
Can I show my graceful appreciation and tell you my ways
on really good stuff and if you want to get a peek?
Let me tell you a quick info about how to change your life you know where to follow right?
There’s certainly a great deal to learn about this issue.
I love all the points you have made.
Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords
but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share.
Many thanks!
Touche. Solid arguments. Keep up the great spirit.
When it involves closet design, there’s no absence of
choices readily available out there.
Another benefit of using gliding door wardrobes is saving area.
We make every effort to supply a degree of service that surpasses the expectations of our consumers.
It has the cabinets somewhat inset to enable room for the bedside table or other furniture.
One more advantage of making use of sliding door closets is conserving
area.
Looking to make much better use of the room you have in your area?
Please take note of the location of the spaces listed below before reserving.
In the middle of the dry arid deserts of Egypt an only building stands.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other
than that, this is wonderful blog. An excellent read.
I’ll certainly be back.
Our devoted video game masters can give you an idea at any type of phase if
you really feel stuck.
hey there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right
here. I did however expertise some technical points
using this website, since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I
could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if
your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining,
but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if
ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding
this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating
content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the page
layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could
connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2
pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
For most recent information you have to pay a
visit the web and on world-wide-web I found this web
site as a most excellent website for latest updates.
If you are going for best contents like I
do, just pay a quick visit this web page everyday
since it offers feature contents, thanks
If you transform your mind you can return the thing within thirty day of distribution.
Your lighting demands are likewise carefully intended.
Top quality, testing Retreat Rooms with such friendly
team.
Unfortunately, we can only have 2-6 gamers inside a Getaway Room.
We can provide different storage space configurations with
slides, baskets, drawers, racks, and hanging space.
I like their job and also dedication to fulfill their customer’s
requirement.
Compact– Integrated wardrobes in Sydney are much more portable and streamlined than free-standing ones.
Unusual as well as thrilling, escape spaces are a wonderful way to spend an evening.
Our effective group is recognized for prompt delivery as well as installment of wardrobes in Sydney.
You have the option of painting your new Moving Built-in Closet
Doors in any kind of Dulux colour.
We are a group of volunteers and starting a
new scheme in our community. Your website offered us
with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
Greetings! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you
knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment
form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Great post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more
on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could
elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
Hey there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew
where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Ahaa, its fastidious dialogue regarding this article here at this blog, I have read all that, so now me also
commenting at this place.
Peculiar article, totally what I needed.