Monday, June 25, 2018

How To Stop Catfishing Online And Protect Your Kids From Internet Predators

By Sarah Smith


The internet is an amazing way to communicate with the whole world. Those who are lucky enough to have electronic devices can take advantage of the a wide range of opportunities. The internet has created a massive opening for predators as well. One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is protecting your children. If you are giving them access to the internet you must know how to stop catfishing online before it gets a chance to start.

Most kids know more than their parents when in comes to internet terminology. If you don't know what an online catfish is, you need to learn quickly. A catfish is a person who makes up a fake identity. These people set up fake profiles and pictures. They may target children for sexual purposes or to manipulate them in some way. There are ways you can minimize the risks to your kids.

There are online responsibility lessons that must go along with permission to access the internet. Kids love sharing pictures with their friends on social media, but this may make them vulnerable to catfish. One tactic catfish use is flattery, which over time can turn into trust. Privacy settings can minimize this problem. If others are going to share pictures of your kids, you should make sure they tag the kids so you know about it.

Predators love to get kids alone. You need to stress the importance of avoiding private conversations with people the kids do not know. Staying in a group will help keep your child safe and out of the clutches of a predator who doesn't want witnesses to record his actions.

Just like you teach children to be wary of strangers in real life, you need to teach them to do the same on social media. As a parent it is your obligation to be nosy. You have a right to know who your kids are talking to on social media. If you see someone unfamiliar to you, you should ask your child who it is and how he knows them. You don't want to be accusatory, just interested and concerned.

You need to know the signs that can indicate a catfish is interacting with your child. Some of these predators set up elaborate profiles on social communities, but do not leave a trace anywhere else online. Their profiles may be new. Catfish might friend a lot of people and not know any of them. Kids should be warned not to friend people they've never heard of.

Searching an image is a great way to catch a catfish. You only have to copy the image and paste it into a search engine. If the picture is a fake, it will pop up in numerous places, including social media pages. It could even be the image of a celebrity. Once you know you have discovered a catfish, you need to block him immediately.

Social media is great, but you've got to protect your children from those who want to take advantage of them. A catfish can be tricky to catch. They try to stay one step ahead of everybody else. As a parent you have a responsibility to keep up with who your child is communicating with the internet.




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