NCMEC

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Growing up in the 1980s meant hearing about child safety in the classroom every day.  However, in the 21st century "don't talk to strangers" has taken on a whole different meaning.  The anonymity of the internet may seem dangerous to us as adults, but to many teenagers, anonymity can provide a false sense of protection.  Many teens feel shielded by their computer screens, believing that they can experiment with online personas and never get harmed.  However, as us wiser and older people know, internet safety is a serious concern.  For example, child predators have honed their technique to solicit underage victims, and teenagers may fall into their traps accidentally.  The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a wonderful resource for parents and guardians to familiarize themselves with.  NCMEC has been around for 20 years and by 2004 had achieved a 94% missing child recovery rate, accordingly to their website.  As times have changed, so have safety measures and NCMEC has gone digital along with the rest of us.

NCMEC's Cyber Tip home page, gives parents and children the knowledge that they need to surf the internet safely.  The NCMEC is responsible for "Teens: Think Before You Post," "For Teens: Don't Believe the Type," and "For Parents: Help Delete Online Predators" campaigns.

If you believe that you child has been abducted, you can contact their toll free hotline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).  If you believe that you have any information regarding a missing child, contact their toll free hotline 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) or if your internet connection permits and your computer has a microphone and speakers, you may talk to a call specialist by clicking on the "Push to Talk" button on their website.