This meant that children spent more time on screens, and online predators tried to copy them.
The National Center for Missing & Exposed Children is a clearinghouse for information about child online exploitation. CBS News has received a report that shows the center received 29.3 millions reports about child sexual exploitation in the last year. This is an increase of 35% over 2020 and an all time high.
John Shehan, vice-president of the Exploited Children Division, said that predators knew that teens and children would be online for longer hours and encouraged each other to take advantage.
Nearly all the 29 million tips came from social media and phone companies. These companies are legally required by law to report illegal images to the national centre. They received more tips regarding illegal videos than still images in the past year.
Alicia Kozak, 13, was abducted by an online predator. The national manhunt began for her. Kozak was abducted from her Pittsburgh home and taken to a basement in Virginia. There she was abused until being saved by law enforcement officers.
Kozak, a promoter of internet safety, said that predators now realize that children across America have greater access to computers and phones at a younger age.
“If a predator tried to groom a child in a park or mall, or anywhere else, school or some other place, they would only have a few chances.” They can easily close the chat box, close that app, and move on to the next victim with the internet,” she stated.
Kozak believes parents must do more than take away devices.
They must monitor their children’s online activities. It’s important that they pay attention. They are safe,” Kozak stated.
