January 15, 2021
A Global Pandemic: A World Full Of Vulnerability
As the world continues to navigate through uncharted waters, there is one alarming fact that is often overlooked. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing precautions and disturbing statistics, much of the country has transitioned to a remote world, which leaves us seeing a spike in vulnerabilities.
In a remote world, children are now exposed more than ever before. Behind screens for hours at a time, and often unmonitored, this world has become a predator’s dream.
UNDERSTANDING THE HOW
One of the biggest parts of protecting children, and even some adults, as virtual learning and remote workplaces continue, is understanding the how. How this group is vulnerable and how these crimes occur. While cyberbullying is always a concern, the exploitation of children has become an even more prevalent concern.
While children have always been exposed to more than preferred through the internet, the change lies within today’s scale of availability. Being heavily proactive online, the how becomes, “how can we protect them?” The answer – be present and encourage open communication.
Now more than ever before, having conversations with your children about online safety is crucial. From entering personal information to engaging in online conversations, the ways in which exploitation occurs are alarming. This group becomes vulnerable simply due to their innocence and lack of understanding of what may lie on the other side of the screen. Predators understand and know what to look for when targeting someone. So, as your child engages in their favorite online game during downtime between classes, chances are, they’re also engaging in an online chat.
This is where you as a parent, a caregiver, a guardian, and so on, needs to be the how. You are the “how we protect them.”
WHAT CAN YOU DO
It’s true that we can’t shelter our children and be with them every step of the way, especially if you’re a parent of multiple remote learners and working at home yourself. Life is tricky, but monitoring what your child is doing online is a must. Below are a few steps you can take to keep your children protected:
· Be present. A child left in his/her room alone for hours on end will find means to communicate with others. If you are physically present, they now have a safe resource.
· Have an established network. We all know that as parents, we’re not always our child’s first choice. Reach out to teachers and other parents to establish a network of resources. Then, if your child has downtime, or needs assistance, there is a safe reach at their fingertips.
· Be online yourself. One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a parent is to fall behind the times. Stay on top of the trending sites and apps and be on them yourself. By doing so, you’ll gain a better understanding of what you may be up against.
· Monitor their activity. It’s your job, and it’s okay if they get upset. Monitoring your child’s search engines and online activity puts knowledge in your hands. Knowledge that can translate into teaching opportunities and ultimately protecting your children.
At Children’s Angels, we are fighting to protect the children of today and of tomorrow. While increased screen time is a reality, it is only one of several ways in which doors are opening for child trafficking.
For more information or assistance, contact Children’s Angels today. Together we will work together to put an end to child exploitation, once and for all.