RIBS AWAY! Tip 4 (page 22)
The thing about the "stranger"
The assumption that perpetrators are "strange men" who confront children in a threatening manner and directly and obviously endanger them is shaped by television and cannot be maintained.
The threat usually comes from trusted individuals within the family, circle of friends and acquaintances, the neighborhood, colleagues, or from educational institutions and clubs.
Nevertheless, the issue of the "stranger" must be addressed with the children, as the number of attacks by strangers has increased again in recent years.
The reason for this is not an increased open presence of stranger perpetrators in the real lives of children, but rather the often uncontrolled access to digital media.
Through social networks, messengers and online games, children easily come into contact with strangers.
Perpetrators deliberately approach minors with the aim of initiating sexual contact. Children are harassed and asked to send nude photos.
The perpetrators act deliberately – anonymously or under a false name.
They seek contact with the child, try to build trust, and manipulate their perception in order to entangle the child in dependencies.
If the perpetrators obtain image and/or video material, they use it to blackmail the children.
They threaten to publish the pictures and videos if the child confides in someone or refuses to send further abuse material.
The perpetrators are now proposing real-life meetings.
Affected children are often hesitant to confide in their parents or other trusted persons because they fear sanctions or even feel guilty themselves.
Since the book FLINS AWAY! is aimed at children who are not normally able to communicate via online media due to their age, the topic was deliberately omitted and presented in a "classic" way.
Nevertheless, make the topic of the internet a high priority in conversations with your child and repeatedly point out the associated dangers.