Most of the time when kids use the Internet to access inappropriate sexual content, the information they access is often only this generation's version of the contraband issue of Playboy magazine, tattered and dog-eared, passed from friend to friend and stored under the mattress. It's undesirable, many agree, but not likely to pose a serious danger to your child's physical well being and safety. In addition, although there's still too much hardcore sexual content available to everyone, more and more of these sites are requiring proof that the viewer is over eighteen. Unless they're really looking for it, it's not likely that your children will stumble on hardcore sexual content. Education and building a solid and trusting relationship with your children is the first line of defense against these dangers.
Predators exist everywhere, online and off.
The proportion of bad actors in cyberspace is no different from that in the real world. As long as we have criminals in this world, though, we will have ingenious people who abuse the system through the use of new technology and media. They are often the first to learn how to manipulate the new medium. The trick is knowing how to avoid trouble and taking whatever steps are necessary to protect yourself and your family and prevent problems. There are many things you can do to protect your children in cyberspace.