Study: Web sex victims mostly teens

[HuckleB]

Study: Web sex victims mostly teens
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=38189

"Far from the stereotype of unsuspecting children kidnapped by strangers posing as people their own age, most young Internet sex-abuse victims are teenagers who know they're corresponding with adults interested in having sex, according to a new study.

     The findings, released yesterday at the American Psychological Association's annual conference in Hawaii, urged an approach to preventing such crimes that acknowledges adolescents' longing for romance and sex.

     ``We need to let them know that's nothing to be ashamed of so that if they're ever in this situation, they'll confide in us,'' said Janis Wolak, an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire. ``What we need to make them see is how those feelings can be manipulated.''

     From 2001 to 2002, Wolak and her colleagues interviewed investigators from 2,574 law-enforcement agencies about Internet child sex-abuse crimes resulting in arrest, and found that 99 percent of the victims were ages 13 to 17, and none was younger than 12."

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=38189

[gatlingforme]

1. That is very interesting stats. but not surprising. This is something

that should be addressed and worked on by teachers and parents.

[Bowline]

2. Parents are responsible for their kids behavior.

Let the teacher stick to teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. I'LL teach my kids right and wrong.

[gatlingforme]

3. I knew if I inserted - teachers - it might be a red herring however

not every kid is as lucky as your kids who have responsible parents to guide them. Many kids grow up with grandparents, aunts, brothers, sisters..etc.. who may not understand the dynamics of evolving criminal minds. I am not saying teachers should teach right from wrong, but they certainly can bring to attention what is going on in the world, as that is part of their job as well. I can't imagine a teacher teaching civics without a field of reference to initiate some type of thought process. i.e. current affairs.