The STOPLight

Are kids getting lost in cyberspace?

Cyberspace: 1. Technology capable of providing quality education, convenient research and fine entertainment. 2. A virtual sidewa1k for sexual predators, customers of the dangerous sex industry, and vulnerable kids.

There was a time in America when pornography was only available in old, run-down buildings-a person had to intentionally seek it. In the past, worry about abduction ended when we locked our doors at night. Today, the Internet sidewalk leads directly into our homes. The most vile forms of pornography and inhumanity can pop up on our computer screens bidden or unbidden); strangers can talk with our children any time.

The Internet has been compared to the Wild West. There is no sheriff yet on the Internet, and those who create the chaos make up their own rules. The sex industry has always made up its own rules, and has cleverly convinced society its activities are "harmless." Internet safety should be a concern for all parents. If you think the horror stories about online predators are bogus or exaggerated, use your local library's computer to search for newspaper articles (use keywords such as internet, sex, child, crime, pornography or pedophile). The number and content of the articles will give you an undeniable reality check.

Our library search found this from the Calgary Herald:

Randall Sluder was online when a man entered the chat room looking for sex with young girls. Sluder created a false profile of 13-year-old "Maggie." when he logged back on pretending to be Maggie he was bombarded with messages-some men even sent him kiddie porn. In this false identity, Sluder flirted and played for days, until he started a relationship with a man who was interested in fooling around.

In this case, the man who entered Randall Sluder's chat room was open about what he wanted. That usually isn't the case. It's vital for parents to understand and explain to their kids that people they meet online may not be who they say they are. An adult can pretend to be a 10-year-old kid.

Some Internet predators just seek lewd, provocative online conversation. Some want to distribute or create pornography. Some are sexual addicts or pedophiles who seek sexual encounters with children,

which could include abduction. Pimps and drug dealers also recruit and sell online. There are many software programs available to block access to unsuitable sites. Unfortunately, filtering or blocking software may also keep children away from sites that might be harmless or even valuable. For example, if you block sites related to sex, information on breast cancer may not be available.

Federal law specifically prohibits child pornography from being distributed by computer transmission. Federal obscenity laws prohibit the use of common carriers (like phone lines) to distribute obscene material. There are state laws as well. Local and state prosecutors and the U.S. Attorney's office should be encouraged to investigate and prosecute illegal computer transmissions.

Technology is developing faster than our ability to devise legislation to control it. Using available knowledge, vigilance, implementing prevention, and working at good communication with our kids are the best actions we can take with this or any dangerous situation. Explain and warn children about the Internet dangers just as they are warned about other potential hazards in their lives. Rules alone will not work. Positive parental involvement has a much better chance. It isn't any safer to let children be alone on the information superhighway than it would be for them to be alone on an interstate freeway.