Why parents should know child's online friends

Dubai - Dubai Family and Juvenile Prosecution wanted families to be aware of with whom their children communicate on social media, no matter how sure they are of their good behaviour.

Authorities have urged parents to keep an eye on social media habits of children to guard them against online predators.
The Dubai Family and Juvenile Prosecution wanted families to be aware of with whom their children communicate on social media, no matter how sure they are of their good behaviour.
Advocate-General and Family and Juvenile chief prosecutor Mohammed Rustom Bu Abdullah said that the Family and Juvenile Prosecution gives importance to raise awareness on the dangers of the electronic blackmail nowadays and the bad effects it could have on teenager, if left on their own.
The Family Prosecution cited the case of a 35-year-old Asian sports coach who managed to obtain 'compromising photos' of his 15-year-old student, and blackmailed him of posting them on Facebook. The coach then sexually assaulted the teenager.
The defendant's seized phone had inappropriate pictures of other teens, which the coach would use to force the minors to have sex with him. He was referred to the Criminal Court on charges of sexual assault, blackmail and threat, inciting a minor to commit immoral acts by using the Internet.
The prosecution recommended that stiff penalties be inflicted on the coach as per the Federal Penal Code and the Federal Law on Fighting Cyber Crimes.
Chief Prosecutor Bu Abdullah revealed that the coach abused the trust of his students' parents.
"He was a Facebook friend with some of them. He would give the students rides in his car for training as the parents trusted him. He would drop all his students and then molest the last one in his car. He would also threaten to post the clips he had of them online if they reject him or try to inform anyone about him."
The 15-year-old victim reported the coach to his parents. He said in the investigation that the coach drove to a sandy yard where he molested him after threatening to post his photos online. The chief prosecutor urged the families to protect their children against electronic blackmail by instilling confidence and building solid communication bridges with them at a very young age.
"If they feel safe with their parents they would seek help from them every time they are subject to threat or intimidation."
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