Online Safety After The Foley Scandal

Larry Magid On Keeping Kids Safe From Internet Predators

(CBS)  The scandal surrounding Congressman Mark Foley brings up a number of interesting issues when it comes to children and teen safety both on and off the Internet.

As a board member of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, author of that organization’s initial Internet safety materials and founder of SafeKids.com, I’ve had the opportunity to study predator behavior. My views, however, are my own and not necessarily those of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

While former Congressman Foley’s hasn’t been accused of physical abuse, his alleged sexually suggestive emails and instant messages to underage boys have all the signs of classic grooming behavior. Regardless of whether the Congressman ever intended to carry out a physical relationship with these young people, his apparent communications are consistent with ways that predators try to help break down inhibitions of their victims and reveal their potential willingness to engage in a sexual relationship.

If this case has a silver lining, it is to help teens and their parents better understand how predators operate so as to avoid becoming victims.

One aspect of the case that’s relatively typical is that the adult and his alleged victims knew each other. While the Internet does make it easier for strangers to contact teens and children, it’s not uncommon for the predator and the child to be acquainted. A 1994 study by the University of New Hampshire Crimes against Children Research Center has shows that 70 to 90 percent of sexual abuse is committed by “persons known to the child.” Keeping children safe is not about “stranger danger.” It’s about protecting them against dangerous behavior.

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Podcast: Internet predators come in all shapes, sizes and occupations and are not necessarily "strangers."

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That an in-person relationship would play out over the Internet is also no surprise. The internet has become the electronic meeting place for the younger generation and for anyone wishing to communicate with young people. The lines between the on and off-line words are increasing blurring and those who exploit children flock to the net because that’s where the children are.

Another common element to this story is that the alleged perpetrator was a respected member of society – someone who children and adults would likely trust. People who sexually abuse children come from all from all walks of life including clergy, police officers, coaches, teachers, doctors and public officials. That’s why many youth- serving organizations now have special programs to help prevent exploitation, including background checks on volunteers and staff who interact with children. But even background checks can’t uncover all potentially dangerous people. What we’ve also learned is that predators are not usually “scary” people. They are often people who appear to be very nice. They often have very positive qualities but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t capable of doing bad things.

Mr. Foley was one of Congress’s most outspoken advocates for protecting children against predators. He was co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus and an author of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. But there is a lesson there as well. A person’s position on issues – including protection of children -- has no bearing in either direction. People who speak out for the rights of children are neither more nor less likely to harm children. And like most adults, the overwhelming majority would never do anything to harm a child.