They may understand computers but they are years away from understanding the harsh realities of the adult world. Parents used to believe their children were safe when the doors to the house were locked and the kids were in their bedrooms. But no more. With a few keystrokes, criminal have the ability to exploit and injure children. The anonymity of the Internet emboldens criminals and lulls children into a false sense of security.
Kids feel safe writing e-mail messages or surfing the web from the comfort of their own homes.
For many children, online activities are a game, playtime, not a time to be guarded or suspicious. Unfortunately, there are adults who invade that playtime, who invade the comfort of children's homes, and use the innocence of children against them. In 1998, nearly 500 adults were convicted of Internetrelated child exploitation offenses in federal courts. And the danger is increasing as more an more children and more and more criminals gain access to the Internet. By the year 2002, more than 45 million children will be online.