Parents and caregivers need to be aware of the many ways predators can develop online relationships with their victims. Predators often seek out children or teens who share a lot of information about themselves online and use that information to build “friendships” that they can then use to their advantage. They may pretend to share the same interests or insecurities, offer excessive compliments, or claim to have access to desired items, usually drugs or alcohol. To learn more about what to watch out for when your children are online, read the VIRTUS® article “Online Child Sexual Exploitation” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know/.
Read the VIRTUS® article “Online Child Sexual Exploitation” here.