What Is Every Parents Nightmare

[emmie]

about their children is coming to fruition, about these new streaming apps.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-42243733/posing-as-a-schoolgirl-to-expose-online-groomers

[emmie]

reported on the news this evening, makes frightening reading.

[sherrardk]

It's a huge concern - my kids are far more tech savvy than me and use all sorts of apps. I've spoken to them all about weirdos on the internet, probably far more likely to encounter a weirdo in the safety of their own houthan if they were out roaming the streets.

[sherrardk]

home than (not that gibberish)

[emmie]

the young lady in the piece was 20 but posing as a 14 year old.
scary just thinking about this, wondering how you protect children nowadays.

[Old_Geezer]

Don't allow the unsupervised access to perilous things ?
Kids could always get into difficult situations. Forewarned about the 'bad men' is about the best you can do for when they're off on their own.

[emmie]

OG agreed, but they have phones that are smart and can access anything on the net. I don't know what the answer is but i know there must be something that all parents can do to warn their children of the dangers.

[Old_Geezer]

One might wonder how they got these expensive "smart" phones. But still, one can not wrap them in cotton wall; I'm probably repeating myself but preparation for what they might encounter has to be key.

[emmie]

most children seem to have these smart phones, my nephew has one as he now goes to senior school and my brother deemed it necessary for him to have one for keeping in touch etc.

[murraymints]

progress ?? stranger danger seems to be the least of worries in these times... constant reminding and monitoring of computers etc is the only way I think.

[Old_Geezer]

In only needs to be "smart" if they have to keep in touch with the Internet. We managed without an Internet when we were young. I suspect your brother was more focussed on giving their son something to please them than just staying in touch. Life's like that.

[emmie]

agreed minty, but when they are out of the house, at school, so many ways for them to be contacted by pervs.

[emmie]

OG expect you are right,

[sherrardk]

Smart phones, tablets, games consoles - access is everywhere. My children know about online stranger danger but there's no saying how much he'd react when faced with it.

[murraymints]

schools here don't allow phones in class.. surrender in the morning..can see them during lunch break then back in basket 'till home time... would need to look at the parental control settings etc... but can never protect them 100 % just need to keep banging on about safety...

[emmie]

the girl featured got so many responses that would only be considered sexual, like take your clothes off, this was supposed to be a 14 year old so that's a lot of pervs out there.

[murraymints]

sadly....^^

[NoMercy]

The McCanns might be the best people to ask.

[sherrardk]

Why would we ask the McCanns?

[emmie]

don't know to be honest ^^

[Old_Geezer]

They might have a different opinion on a parent's nightmare ?
That said, one isn't looking to grade them.