The internet is a powerful tool that offers many possibilities for communication, information and entertainment. But it can also be a dangerous environment, where children and adolescents can be exposed to risks such as pedophilia, zoophilia, racism, Nazism, misogyny and violence.
A recent example is the Operation Dark Room, carried out by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro in partnership with the Federal Police and other police stations in the country. The operation investigated and arrested suspects using the Discord platform, originally created for the gamer community, to form groups that committed crimes related to sexual and psychological violence, such as virtual rape, encouraging self-mutilation and suicide.
According to investigations, the leaders of these groups used social engineering and blackmail techniques to coerce teenagers into becoming virtual sex slaves, broadcasting sessions of abuse, humiliation and mutilation live. In addition, groups also shared videos of animals being tortured and sacrificed as part of challenges.
Faced with this frightening scenario, how can parents protect their children from the dangers of the internet? The psychologist and director of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Safernet, Juliana Cunha, says that it is necessary to find a balance between control and dialogue.
She explains that there are parental control tools that can monitor children’s internet browsing, but that they are not enough without an open and honest conversation. “Families also need to talk about sexuality. It is important to understand that adolescence is the moment when sexuality flourishes. Parents need to deal with this and are often not prepared to see their children grow up. It is a big obstacle for children to be afraid to talk to their parents for fear of being punished by removing their cell phones”, says Juliana.
The psychologist points out that dialogue is essential to prepare children to respond to risks and that the school can be an important ally to make families aware of the problems.
The delegate responsible for Operation Dark Room in Rio, Luiz Henrique Marques, holder of the Child and Adolescent Victim Police Station (Dcav), warns that parents need to observe any changes in their children’s behavior, as they can be both victims and abusers.
“Your child’s room is an environment with doors open to the world. From there, with the internet, you have access to all the good that the internet has brought, but to all the bad that is also present there. The investigation showed that minors cannot have free access to the internet, they have to be monitored. You also need to talk a lot with your children”, says the delegate.
He highlights that, in Operation Dark Room, abusers and victims are 15 and 16 years old and that most parents did not know that their child was an abuser or a victim.
The internet is a powerful tool that offers many possibilities for communication, information and entertainment. But it can also be a dangerous environment, where children and adolescents can be exposed to risks such as pedophilia, zoophilia, racism, Nazism, misogyny and violence.
A recent example is the Operation Dark Room, carried out by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro in partnership with the Federal Police and other police stations in the country. The operation investigated and arrested suspects using the Discord platform, originally created for the gamer community, to form groups that committed crimes related to sexual and psychological violence, such as virtual rape, encouraging self-mutilation and suicide.
According to investigations, the leaders of these groups used social engineering and blackmail techniques to coerce teenagers into becoming virtual sex slaves, broadcasting sessions of abuse, humiliation and mutilation live. In addition, groups also shared videos of animals being tortured and sacrificed as part of challenges.
Faced with this frightening scenario, how can parents protect their children from the dangers of the internet? The psychologist and director of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Safernet, Juliana Cunha, says that it is necessary to find a balance between control and dialogue.
She explains that there are parental control tools that can monitor children’s internet browsing, but that they are not enough without an open and honest conversation. “Families also need to talk about sexuality. It is important to understand that adolescence is the moment when sexuality flourishes. Parents need to deal with this and are often not prepared to see their children grow up. It is a big obstacle for children to be afraid to talk to their parents for fear of being punished by removing their cell phones”, says Juliana.
The psychologist points out that dialogue is essential to prepare children to respond to risks and that the school can be an important ally to make families aware of the problems.
The delegate responsible for Operation Dark Room in Rio, Luiz Henrique Marques, holder of the Child and Adolescent Victim Police Station (Dcav), warns that parents need to observe any changes in their children’s behavior, as they can be both victims and abusers.
“Your child’s room is an environment with doors open to the world. From there, with the internet, you have access to all the good that the internet has brought, but to all the bad that is also present there. The investigation showed that minors cannot have free access to the internet, they have to be monitored. You also need to talk a lot with your children”, says the delegate.
He highlights that, in Operation Dark Room, abusers and victims are 15 and 16 years old and that most parents did not know that their child was an abuser or a victim.
