There are many issues that face young teenage children in today’s society. The Los Angeles Police Department seems to be called upon when certain problems happen with young children; especially the middle school age children when it comes down to risks involving mobile and home Internet, personal websites, instant messaging, social and video networking, and online gaming.
As a Los Angeles Police Department Officer, I would go into the community and schools and inform them of all the risks involved. I would make presentations with real stories and outcomes of situations involving these dangers. As for safety tips, I would tell them to make sure that they are only talking to friends they know; and perhaps if they do meet new people be somewhat discrete about the information they share with them. I would also perhaps take a step further and form a committee composed of young people to help get the message of the risks involving all these forms of communication. The advantage of this committee would be a better peer communication.
Many middle school students are unaware of the many risks that happen on a daily basis. In most cases they believe that they are only communicating with their friends or peers. They start to form communication with new people, not knowing exactly who these people are. They might be young children like them, but perhaps not the children that are on the right path in life. In other instances, there might be adults who are trying to win their confidence by tricking them. Unfortunately, these adults are in reality just trying to hurt young children.
I think that the middle school age is one of the most crucial times of a child’s life. They think they are no longer children and think it is cool to have all sorts of friends without really knowing who is on the other side of their communication line. Perhaps the peer communication and true stories will make them think twice.
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