IT WAS almost by accident the mother of a 14-year-old Bunbury student found out her daughter was being groomed by an online predator.
Mother of four Kelly* was monitoring her daughter’s Facebook page when a woman who posed as ‘Sarah Jamesy’ repeatedly private messaged her child.
“At first I didn’t pay attention because it was a woman’s name,” Kelly said.
“But then I saw a message that said ‘I didn’t mean to scare you’ which made me scroll up the conversation.”
What Kelly saw next left her shocked and angry.
Sarah Jamesy had made several complimentary remarks about the 14-year-old before asking her to send nude photos.
“For all I knew, Sarah Jamesy could have been an older man asking my daughter to send provocative photos,” Kelly said.
She reported the incident to police but said she wanted to warn other parents of the dangers of the online site.
“It shows this can happen to anyone so children need to be educated and concerned when a person they don’t know is talking to them.”
She said the account had also ‘friended’ 50 other young girls at Newton Moore Senior High School and Bunbury Senior High School.
Bunbury Detective Steve Carter said parents needed to warn their children about the consequences of sexting, both socially and legally.
“Remind them to think before they act – taking or sending sexual images, even of themselves, has ramifications and may be illegal,” Detective Carter said.
“The child who sends it is not just a victim in the matter they are an offender as well.
“Engaging in this activity can result is serious sexual offences being committed by all parties which the result may be a criminal conviction or being registered as a serious sex offender.”
Federal Member for Forrest Nola Marino advocates for online safety at schools and said young people needed to know how to recognise something was wrong online.
“Unfortunately it is quite clear when I speak to young people and students that there is a competition of sorts to have a lot of friends and followers on social media,” Mrs Marino said.
“Just like this example – once a predator has a few online friends and their profile becomes valid enough for more and more young people to befriend them,
“I hope that all parents recognise from this example why it is important to be able to speak with their children about online safety and why online safety education for young people is so important.”
Helpful information for parents can be found online at www.cybersmart.gov.au
*Mother’s name changed for her daughter’s privacy.
