Dec 17, 2018 4 min read

Local experts said parents should monitor their children’s online activity to protect them from predators.

“Predators go to great lengths to try to solicit your child,” said State Police Tpr. Robert Broadwater. “That’s why it’s important for parents to understand what goes on with these predators so that they can explain the dangers to their kids.”

State police arrested multiple people in Fayette County in 2018 on allegations of sexually assaulting children or soliciting them. Oftentimes, contact with predators begins through text communication or social media. On Nov. 16, Joseph Andrew Aten, 20, of Michigan was charged for sending a pornographic video was charged for sending a pornographic video and explicit texts to a 9-year-old girl in German Township, on her father’s cellphone. In August, Richard Alan Hoover, 46, of Uniontown was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl at a North Union Township motel. Police said he first contacted the girl on Facebook, describing himself as a younger man named Richard Coleman. He later arranged a meeting with her, claiming she would be meeting his son, and offered to to pay her $100, according to police.

While children are often more technology savvy than their parents, they can also be naive to danger and susceptible to a predator telling them what they want to hear, experts said. Pat Mowen, prevention educator at the Fayette County Crime Victims’ Center, said child predators often lure a teen with compliments, exploiting vulnerabilities and insecurities.

There is no set guideline on how to keep kids safe from online predators, or to what level a parent should monitor their child’s online activity, Mowen said. She said parents should base those decisions on the child’s age, maturity level and behavior.

General tips for keeping children safe online include:

n monitoring and limiting the amount of time children are spending online.knowing who children are talking to online.staying up-to-date on apps and online security measures.knowing your child’s passwords.setting strong passwords online.never sharing private information online.only allowing children to download apps with parent or guardian permission.warning children of online predators and catfishing.

“You’ve just got to be careful. You’ve got to be aware. Parents should be responsible for what their kids are doing online,” Broadwater said.

It is important for youth to understand that a person is not necessarily who they say they are online. Child predators often use social media platforms or online games for the sole purpose of luring a child. Parents should know who their children are communicating with, and be wary of any adult talking to their children. If children are hiding information like passwords, or if they are reluctant to reveal who they are talking to, parents should consider the reluctance a red flag, the experts said.

“Sometimes the issue of privacy comes up, but you have to be a parent. As parents or guardians, you’re ultimately responsible for keeping your child safe,” Mowen said. “Some parents are construed as being too strict or overly protective. Maybe they’re just being a parent.”

The experts also reminded both children and adults that messages and images sent over the phone or posted on social media can have a lasting impact. Employers often look at social media accounts to determine the character of a person they want to hire. Mowen referenced viral stories in which both celebrities and private citizens became infamous for social media posts.

“As soon as you push that button, you lose all control of where that post or message will show up. It’s forever floating around in cyberspace,” she said.