Online chatting has become a means of free expression in an anonymous setting. Hidden behind a veil of secrecy, chatters are able to say things that they may never say in real life. They rarely think about what they say, how the things they say impact others, and what the consequences could be. They can pretend to be what they are not, and even tread dangerously on illegal areas. The chat room has become the breeding ground for predators and victims alike.
A reminder: your words can get you into trouble, even if you make it online. This is especially true when you are chatting with a minor. How you deal with a minor can lead to serious criminal charges, especially with sexually explicit content. As an adult, it is best if you never chat with minors online. Here are some of the reasons why:
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1. Arranging a meet up could get you into trouble
In most countries, it is illegal to arrange a meeting with an underaged individual for lewd and lascivious purposes/sexual conduct. This could include the use of online chat rooms and even "wholesome" applications like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to contact the minor. In California, for instance, a conviction could result to a lifetime registration as a sex offender AND up to three years of imprisonment.
Action: Avoid adding minors (specifically those you do not personally know) in social networking sites.
2. Actually meeting the minor can get you into more trouble
As if three years in prison isn't bad enough, things could actually get worse if you go beyond just "arranging" a meeting to actually meeting the kid. Prison time could potentially increase, and so will your guilt. You can probably try to defend your honor if you just "plan" the meeting and not go through with it, but if you actually meet up with the minor the intent is pretty clear.
Action: Look for someone over 18 and meet up with that guy instead.
3. Sending sexual materials or engaging in cybersex with a minor could cause jail time
It is also illegal to send (and request for) erotic material and nude photos with the intent of arousing yourself or the minor. Any sexual activity via chat, voice call, or video feed also counts as a sexual offense. You will likewise get a lifetime registration as a sex offender on top of jail time.
Action: Just use Google and search for adult sites to get your daily pornography fix.
4. Cops (or reality TV) could be setting you up
In the US, the police actually take an active participation in bringing online predators to justice. They troll the chat sites, plant their traps, patiently communicate with offenders, and tempt them with the promise of a hot sexual encounter. Once these unsuspecting adults decide to actually go for a meet up, they end up with the surprise of their lives when a man in uniform apprehends them. TV shows like "To Catch a Predator" also capitalize on such entrapment operations, bringing sexual offenders to justice and to shame.
Action: Watch reruns of "To Catch a Predator" and see how your life will look like if you get caught.
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| image courtesy of apologeticspress.org |
5. Parents are Always on the Lookout for Internet Predators.
Diligent parents do take precautions and check the online activity of their kids. They can browse through the search history and filters on their laptops or use special applications to monitor what their minor children are doing online. Seeing a chat history with a stranger will definitely raise red flags, and these parents could seek the assistance of the police to track you and press charges against you. Parents will go to any lengths to protect their children, and they will do everything in their power to see you humiliated behind bars.
Action: As soon as you discover that you are chatting with a minor, just STOP.
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