Is Your Teenager in Trouble Online?

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If you are a parent who has a teenager that uses the internet there are certain tell-tale signs that he might run into trouble online. The more they use the Internet to socialize the more their chances increase for becoming the victim of a child predator; or, if you’ve watched the news lately you know the dangers of kids being harassed by those that they know online. Would you recognize the signs if your child is in trouble?

There are four major signs that your teenager may be in trouble online. If any of these signs apply to your child, you will want to take action right away.

1 – They Get on the Computer at the Same Time Everyday

Most parents think their child will not become a target of a child predator. What they fail to realize is that this process doesn’t always happen overnight and some child predators pretend to be the ages of their targets. They work to gain the trust of their targets so this can take a few days or a few weeks. Pay attention to your child’s internet activities. Do they get on the internet at the same time, every single day? This is a good sign that they are communicating directly with someone, who may not have pure intentions.

2 – They Are Secretive When They Use the Computer

You walk into the room where your child is on the Internet — how does your child act? Does your child try to hide what they are doing online from you? If they automatically shut off the computer or put a game on the screen, they may be trying to prevent you from seeing what they are doing online. This is a good sign that your child may be doing something they shouldn’t be doing online, like having direct, personal conversations with a stranger, who may be a child predator.

3 – Being on the Internet Leaves Them With a Sense of Euphoria

If your child is overly happy when they sign off the internet, they may be on the path to trouble. This sign can be a little bit tricky though. Your child may be happy because they just finished a long school project, but you honestly never know. If your teenager is communicating with someone online, they may be in the process of starting a relationship, which they are happy about. Unfortunately, many teenagers do not realize that anyone can hide behind a computer. That is why it is important that you talk to your child about the dangers of starting an online romance.

4 – They Are Very Depressed

As previously stated, your child may be very happy when using the internet, but another warning sign is that they are depressed, especially when they sign off the computer. What many parents do not realize is that other teenagers use the internet for harassment. If your teenager has a falling out with one of their friends, they may find themselves being harassed online. If that is the case, your child may seem very down, depressed, and withdrawn.

Last year a case that made national news involved an older woman who harrassed a young girl named Megan Meier who committed suicide because of the harrassment. Megan’s parents didn’t have a clue that their child was being harrassed. You can read the story here . A few weeks ago the woman, Lori Drew was indicted for the untimely death of the child. But, that didn’t bring Megan back to her distraught family.

It’s time to stop the madness and you are the only one who can do it in your own home. The four above mentioned signs are just a few of the many that you will want to look for to see if your child is in trouble online. With that said, there are additional signs that you will want to be on the lookout for, the biggest being a change in behavior. If you do suspect that your child has or is about to run into trouble online, be sure to talk to them and as soon as possible.

~~Linda