Ep 56. My Kid Would Never Do That: Stranger Danger

In this episode of Dateline, titled "My Kid Would Never Do That: Stranger Danger," the show focuses on the dangers that could arise from strangers talking to children online. Parents are often warned and cautioned about strangers approaching their children in public areas, but with the rise of technology, the threat of stranger danger has drastically risen.

The show starts with parents being left with the question of how to keep their children safe from someone they have never met. The producers consult with a team of experts to determine the best way to deal with child predators online and how to keep children away from their reach. The team comprises professionals from cybercrime units, law enforcement agencies, and organizations specializing in online child protection.

The episode quickly moves into interviews with parents with children of varying ages about their child’s usage of technology and the potential dangers they perceive for their children. The parents unanimously agree that they are worried about the possibility of paedophiles contacting their children online, despite their best efforts to monitor and control their child's internet usage.

Dateline then reaches out to a team of experts in online predicaments and agrees to set up a social experiment where the show's producers create fake Facebook profiles for two fictitious children aged 12 and 15, and see how long it would take for them to add random strangers to their friend list. Shockingly it doesn't take long, in just two weeks, a dangerous predator contacts both of our fictitious characters.

The majority of online predators manipulate their targets, and they make their move when the person is at their most vulnerable. The show highlights this as the fictitious 12-year-old receives messages from a man, claiming to be working for the Department of Child Services and posing as a sympathetic, trustworthy person who asks her if anyone in her life is making her uncomfortable. The predator then manipulates her and asks to be friends on Facebook.

Dateline then reaches out to experts in the subject of 'grooming,' the act of emotionally manipulating someone to gain their trust, perhaps for the ultimate goal of exploitation. They explain the techniques that predators use to groom children online, including flattery, gift-giving, and offering emotional support in difficult circumstances.

The show then highlights the danger of snapchat and how easy it is to exploit it. Lonely teenagers are often the target of individuals posing as young people who offer them emotional support and conversation, leading to meeting up in person. The possible dangers of this set-up are highlighted, and parents are encouraged to keep the lines of communication with their children open.

Next, Dateline explores how frequently parents talk to their children about online safety and asks whether or not they feel they are being heard. The results of these interviews reveal that there is confusion as to whether telling their children to be cautious with internet profiles is enough. Experts warn parents need to educate their children on the potential risks and tell them what to do if they are uncomfortable with any online interactions.

The show then features an interview with an online predator who mentions the availability of online chat rooms and how they make it easier for predators to reach their targets. Dateline goes on to consult expert sources that advise a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior in the online sphere.

Finally, the show explores the dangers of sexting, taking dangerous photos, and the issue of the deletion of incriminating evidence. It is critical that parents actively educate their children about keeping themselves and their images safe and take time to explain the permanence of online evidence.

The episode concludes by encouraging parents to remain vigilant and monitor their children’s online activity while reassuring them that, with the right lessons, children can be well-equipped to navigate the hazards of online behavior. The experts remind the viewers that not every person online is a danger, but it is a parents’ responsibility to keep their children safe.