Comments on: Turns out online danger to children is overblown. Surprised?

By: RBG

RBG — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:09:43 +0000

19 ECA It’s an example of the laughably flawed logic often seen on these pages that goes like this: “How can you possibly consider working on problem X when problem Y is so much bigger.” Like the concept of delegation and multi-tasking is some kind of inscrutable quantum physics.

ie: The report concluded that the problem of bullying among children, both online and offline, poses a far more serious challenge than the sexual solicitation of minors by adults.

RBG

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:47:42 +0000

The media full of BS. No couldn’t be !

By: ECA

ECA — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:39:25 +0000

“”One out of every 3 youth has encountered unwanted sexual material while online (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006).
Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA ).”"

AND HOw does this rank with a FAMILY member, soliciting or RAPING a child in FAMILY..Uncle/aunt, father/mother, Brother/sister,…

By: RBG

RBG — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:28:42 +0000

And maybe we can get our money back on this study. Or is it simply a matter of whomever publishes last is right?

44% of online aggressive sexual solicitations of youths are now coming from other youths under age 17 that the victim knows in real life (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA).

RBG

By: RBG

RBG — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:57 +0000

Thankfully we now can also ignore these problems because it’s been determined that the problem of bullying among children, both online and offline, poses a far more serious challenge:

More than one fourth (27%) of teens report that they have talked online about sex with someone they have never met in person (Teen Research Unlimited, “Topline Findings from Omnibuzz Research.” October 2005).

81% of parents of online teens say that teens aren’t careful enough when giving out information about themselves online and 79% of online teens agree with this (Pew Internet and American Life Project, “Protecting Teens Online”. March 17, 2005).

40% of online sexual solicitations of youth begin with an Instant Message (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA ).

About one-third of youth (34%) admit to regularly communicating online with people they did not know in person (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA ).

45% of aggressive sexual solicitations (in which the solicitor requests contact with the child in real life) happens to youth when they were online with their friends (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006). Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA ).

One out of every 3 youth has encountered unwanted sexual material while online (Wolak, J., Mitchell, K., & Finkelhor, D. (2006).
Online victimization of youth: Five years later. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Bulletin – #07-06-025. Alexandria, VA ).

RBG

By: Mr. Fusion

Mr. Fusion — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:24:34 +0000

#14, bobbo,

So now we know where to find you when you aren’t here.

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:11:24 +0000

# 14
Bobbo you got to stop doing that.

By: bobbo

bobbo — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:43:17 +0000

I disagree. I think the danger is real and overwhelming.

The data is clear: go online posing as a 12 year old and surf to “Ilovemesomeyoungstuffdotcom” and it won’t be longer than a few weeks before someone will want to make a date with you.

Guaranteed–100% of the time.

By: Greg Allen

Greg Allen — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:25:32 +0000

I’m old enough to be pretty used to the hyped-up scare of new problems.

Remember all the fear about “crack babies” who were supposedly all destined to be psychopath killers? The fear level over this has very high when crack was a new phenomenon. It ends up that fetal alcohol syndrome is still worse. (or so I understand).

The issues of ritual child abuse and “repressed memory syndrome” were also WAY overhyped for a while.

Typically, there is a real issue and a real danger but way way over hyped.

By: John E. Quantum

John E. Quantum — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:48:30 +0000

There IS online danger for the pervy old guys who think they are communicating with 13 year old girls, but really are online with THE MAN.

By: GF

GF — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:52:09 +0000

I just didn’t see it either. As much hype as it gets you’d expect that every other kid was being abused. It’s like the gun control nuts who act like everyone they know is getting killed by a handgun.

By: Freedom

Freedom — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:49:49 +0000

The end of the NYT article stated, “One problem is that it is difficult to verify the ages and identities of children because they do not have driver’s licenses or insurance.”

National ID cards here we come!

By: sargasso

sargasso — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:45:12 +0000

Remember that the isolation of the online sex industry into it’s own domain, was most fiercely opposed by the religeous right.

By: MikeN

MikeN — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:53:00 +0000

Turns out all dangers are overblown. Surprised?

By: Dallas

Dallas — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:41:08 +0000

Not surprised.

Fear is THE choice strategy for governments and religious institutions to brainwash and exert control over the masses.

Ya gotta have a boogie man.