Sciextor

Preditorial Behavour

Online predators are individuals who use the internet to exploit or harm others, especially children and teens.

Online predators may use various methods, such as chat rooms, social media, online games, or dating apps, to groom, manipulate, or coerce their victims into sexual or abusive situations.

Online predators may also use blackmail, threats, or violence to force their victims to comply with their demands.

Some statistics on online predators are

• According to a 2018 report by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, there were over 65,000 reports of online child sexual exploitation in Canada
• According to a 2019 report by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), there were over 16.9 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation and abuse worldwide.
• According to a 2020 report by Thorn, 16% of surveyed child sex trafficking survivors said they were first exploited online.
• According to a 2020 report by Cybertip.ca, the most common platforms used by online predators to contact children and teens were Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Kik.
• According to a 2020 report by Common Sense Media, only 5% of online predators pretend to be kids, while most reveal that they are older.
• Online predators are a serious threat that requires awareness and vigilance from parents and children.

What can you do

• Be careful about what you share online. Do not post or send any personal information, such as your full name, school, address, phone number, or passwords, to anyone you do not know or trust. Do not use suggestive or provocative screen names or photos that may attract unwanted attention from online predators
• Be wary of strangers who contact you online. Online predators may pretend to be someone they are not, such as a child, a teen, or a friend, to gain your trust and interest. They may also use flattery, compliments, gifts, or sympathy to make you feel special or understood. Do not engage in any conversations that are sexual, personal, or inappropriate with anyone you do not know or trust
• Do not agree to meet anyone you met online in person. Online predators may try to persuade you to meet them face-to-face, which can be very dangerous. They may lie about their age, appearance, or intentions, and may harm you physically or sexually. If someone asks you to meet them, say no and tell a parent or a trusted adult immediately
• Report any suspicious or abusive behavior online. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, or threatened online, you should block them, delete them, or report them to the website, app, or platform you are using. You should also tell a parent or a trusted adult what happened, and save any evidence, such as messages, emails, or screenshots, that may be useful for reporting the incident to the authorities
• Educate yourself and others about online safety. You can learn more about how to recognize and avoid online predators by visiting websites like NetSmartz or Consumer Advice. You can also help others, such as your friends, siblings, or classmates, to stay safe online by sharing your knowledge and experience with them. You can also join online communities or campaigns that promote online safety and awareness, such as the Blue Campaign or the Stop.Think.Connect campaign
• Report Sexual abuse or child exploitation in the US: CyberTipline
• Report Sexual abuse or child exploitation in Canada: Cybertip