Sexual Predators
What Can You Do About It?
Don’t be a victim, and don’t allow your child to be one. If you get the sense that the person may try to stalk either of you offline, call your local police immediately. Keep a record of all the details, and make sure neither you nor your child responds, even with more threats. That fuels the fire, and many harassers and cyberstalkers are looking only for the thrill of frightening you and your child. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
So how do you arm yourself and your child? Know the cyberstalking safety rules:
- Don’t respond to flaming (provocation online).
- Choose a genderless, nonprovocative screen name.
- Don’t flirt online, unless you’re prepared for the consequences.
- Save offending messages and report them to your service provider.
- Get out of an online situation that has become hostile—log off or surf elsewhere.
- Use caller ID.
- Get help! Call the police if there’s any indication that the stalker knows where you live and has threatened to hurt you.
