Telling the Difference: The Nature of the Threats

‹ The Source of the Threats

The Nature of the Threats

• Repeated e-mails or IMs
• Following the child around online, into chat rooms, favorite Web sites, etc.
• Building fake profiles, Web sites or posing as your child’s e-mail or IM
• Planting statements to provoke third-party stalking and harassment
• Signing your child up for porn sites and e-mailing lists and junk e-mail and IM.
• Breaking in to their accounts online
• Stealing or otherwise accessing their passwords
• Posting images of the child online (taken from any source, including video and photo phones)
• Posting real or doctored sexual images of the child online
• Sharing personal information about the child
• Sharing intimate information about the child (sexual, special problems, etc.)
• Sharing contact information about the child coupled with a sexual solicitation (“for a good time call …” or “I am interested in [fill in the blank] sex…”)
• Reporting the child for real or provoked terms of service violations (“notify wars” or “warning wars”)
• Encouraging that others share their top ten “hit lists,” or ugly lists, or slut lists online and including your child on that list.
• Posting and encouraging others to post nasty comments on your child’s blog.
• Hacking your child’s computer and sending your child malicious codes.
• Sending threats to others (like the president of the United States) or attacking others while posing as your child.
• Copying others on your child’s private e-mail and IM communications.
• Posting bad reviews or feedback on your child without cause.
• Registering your child’s name and setting up a bash Web site or profile.
• Posting rude or provocative comments while posing as your child (such as insulting racial minorities at a Web site devoted to that racial minority).
• Sending spam or malware to others while posing as your child.
• Breaking the rules of a Web site or service while posing as your child.
• Setting up a vote for site (like “hot or not?”) designed to embarrass or humiliate your child.
• Masquerading as your child for any purpose.
• Posting your child’s text messaging address or cell phone number online to encourage abuse and increase your child’s text messaging or cell phone charges.
• Launching a denial of service attack on your child’s Web site
• Sending “jokes” or rude things about your child to others or mailing lists.