Alert! Protect Children From Online Grooming Threats On Social Media

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI) Seto Mulyadi asked parents to be aware of one of the negative sides of using social media for children, sexual "grooming online" or online sexual crimes.

"In the era of technology, it is very possible for online sexual grooming to take place," said the man who is familiarly called Kak Seto in the webinar entitled "Digital Parenting: Technology-Intelligent Families for Protected Children", which was attended in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 3.

He explained that grooming is a mode of sexual abuse of children which is carried out in an interesting way.

The perpetrator, he said, would try to build a relationship and trust with his child/family for days, weeks, even months. Until finally the perpetrators found an opportunity to sexually abuse children.

"The groomers are usually "foreign" people as well as those closest to the child, such as friends, educators, and family," he said as quoted by Antara.

To prevent children from becoming victims of grooming, said Kak Seto, parents must give their children an understanding that the child's body belongs to the child.

Then give instilling to the child that the body part covered by the shirt should not be seen by just anyone.

"Not just anyone can see it, maybe only parents and doctors when examined," he said.

In addition, he said, children should also be taught how to defend their principles. "If you can't, you can't," he said.

Then, it is taught to children to fight when forced by someone.

He added that parents must instill in their children to always tell their parents.

Therefore, it is important for parents to position themselves as children's friends so that children can feel comfortable telling stories to their parents.

When children tell stories, parents must listen attentively.

"Put down the gadget, look into the child's eyes, listen to the story carefully," said Seto Mulyadi.