This video presents a teleconference on the methods of exploitation of children through the Internet and how teachers and parents can help prevent this.
A video clip is first presented to provide an overview of the criminal methods used by sexual predators to lure children and adolescents into sexually explicit communications on the Internet as well as the online transference of child pornography. The most dangerous form of Internet seduction is that which lures children and youth into face-to-face contact with the predator, which can result in criminal victimization. Following the video clip, a panel of experts discusses ways in which parents and teachers can assist in preventing child exploitation through the Internet. The panel consists of a representative of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a representative of the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the founder of a local program designed to teach children and youth about "safe surfing," and the executive director of the National School Boards Association. Some prevention measures suggested by the panel are the maintenance of open communication between parents and children about the use of the Internet, the use of filtering programs and browsers, the placement of computers in areas that can be easily supervised, the setting of guidelines and rules for children to follow while online, and the education of children about the dangers of the Internet. A video clip is used to portray the activities of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, a program of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia) designed to combat child pornography and other crimes against children over the Internet. A parent also describes how her daughter was seduced into direct contact with a man through Internet communications. Questions from teleconference viewers are answered by panel members. A participant packet accompanies the video.