Introduction

Predators, also known as pedophiles, or sex offenders, have blown up on several social media platforms recently. They are usually caught in sting operations, scenarios where online vigilante groups catch and arrest these predators. The platforms used to stream these catches include but are not limited to Youtube, Twitch and Kick. According to the King County Sex Offender Registry, there are at least 4 registered sex offenders in the Maple Valley Area alone. How could we as a community make changes to keep children safe online and in our schools? Let’s ask a parent of a student at Tahoma High School. 

(This image is a photo of Chris Hansen, a former predator catcher on the show “To Catch A Predator”).

Interview with a parent

An Anonymous parent of a student at Tahoma High School was able to share information on the importance of monitoring internet usage. 

“The internet is a dangerous place, there are so many different ways that online predators can reach our children.”

“They use social media and video games to meet and manipulate minors. So it’s very important to take measures to make sure your kid is safe.” 

Some precautionary acts that parents should take to ensure the safety of their kids are to set privacy settings on their social media apps, check in with their children often, and look for signs of abuse. These simple acts could make a huge difference whether or not their child can become a victim of a child predator. Online predators use the internet and its platforms in order to get in contact with minors. Some of the platforms that they use include online games, social media apps and online chat rooms.

They pose a great danger because they tend to use manipulative tactics in order to garner the trust of the children they interact with. It’s important for parents of minors to monitor their kids’ internet usage to reduce the chance that their child is a victim of a child predator. As stated previously, there are at least four sex offenders in the Maple Valley area alone. What do students think knowing that there are multiple sex offenders within a mile of Tahoma High School?

Opinion from a student

During an interview with Ethan Downs, a student attending Tahoma High School. He was able to answer a few questions regarding child predators. Concerning the amount of sexual offenders in the Maple Valley area, Downs stated.

“I feel threatened, they shouldn’t be allowed to live so close to the school.”

Not only is he concerned about the safety of himself, but for the safety of his family as well.

“I’m concerned about the safety of my little sisters, I don’t want them to be in a position where they have to live near these predators.”

Online predators are a danger to our communities, and the minors of Maple Valley have the right to not want to live by offenders. Parents should be monitoring their children carefully, both with their online use and when going out in public. There are likely many child predators that have yet to be caught, so it’s important to be vigilant as a parent. In conclusion, parents should monitor their children carefully because predators are everywhere in today’s society. Whether it’s on social media, video games, school or anywhere else; the predator predicament is in full force.