Monday 25 June 2018

How To Stop Catfishing Online And Keep Your Children Safe 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.

A lot of children know more about internet terminology that their parents do. If you are not familiar with the meaning of catfishing, you need to get educated fast. Catfish are predators who create fake identities, profiles, and pictures in an effort to fool unsuspecting individuals. They might be targeting kids for sexual purposes or as a way to manipulate them. It's important that you do everything possible to minimize the risks to your children.

Permission to use the internet should come with online responsibility lessons. Everybody loves to share photos on social media, but this is one way catfish attach themselves to kids. They will flatter them and try to create a relationship. You have to create privacy settings and make sure your kids are tagged when a friend or relative posts a picture that includes them.

The more a predator can isolate a child online, the easier it is for him to cause damage and get personal information. Parents need to insist that children avoid private conversations. There is safety in group discussions. Predators don't want witnesses to what they are doing or who they are targeting.

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.

There are certain signs you should recognize as a potential catfish. Some of them will set up sophisticated profiles but when you search, not show up anywhere else on the internet. They might have new profiles with lots of friends. Catfish won't post details or have much interaction with their so called friends.

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.

Modern technology is wonderful. It opens a lot of doors for people of all ages. Protecting your kids from the negative elements that exist online is paramount though. Catfish can strike anywhere. You have to remain vigilant and know who your child is talking to.




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