Mum Jen Hoey reveals dangers of online predators after daughter crossed paths with one in a game

Jen Hoey has very strict rules for her son after his older sister was exposed to a predator. Here’s why and how it’s changed their family.

Jen Hoey’s nine-year-old son is banned from the internet unsupervised – because her family learned the online dangers the hard way.

At the same age, her daughter crossed paths with a predator in an online game.

She thought it was another child, and didn’t want to get them in trouble, but eventually told her parents.

“As a vigilant parent I was quite shattered,” Ms Hoey said.

Jen Hoey was ‘shattered’ to find out her daughter crossed paths with a predator. Picture: Christian Anstey

The experience led her to start Not My Kid and to work as a cyber safety consultant with parents who want to learn how to keep their childen safe.

Another son was also bullied online, so when her youngest started primary school – with the number of apps and devices having grown exponentially – she knew she better be prepared.

“I became very concerned, but the way I coped was getting educated,” she said.

“I understand the challenge. My daughter’s exposure did not happen in my home, which is what another thing I’m constantly trying to tell parents. It’s all well if you’ve got the rules in place, but you’ve got to make sure that the parents of children they visit have the rules in place as well.”

Ms Hoey’s concerns about the safety of her kids online are echoed by experts on the newly released Predatory podcast hosted by ex NSW Detective Gary Jubelin and actress Madeleine West.

Listen to the Predatory Podcast below:

Follow the rest of the episodes at predatory.com.au

Examples of sexual behaviour on the popular online game Roblox. Picture: Supplied

With her youngest son, she set ground rules before the online world took hold of his life.

“When he started primary school I was honestly shocked at how much freedom little kids were being allowed online,” she said.

“I guess my primary position is one of delay. My nine year old has no access online at all. And as well as that I have talked to him about predators, porn, sex. We’ve had very open conversations – because they will be exposed, it’s not a question of if, it’s when. The average age is between eight and 12. So I knew that I had to get in early with him and put a lot of rules in place.”

Ms Hoey wants other parents to be informed from her experience of finding the brutal truth the hard way.

“I’m not coming from a place of wanting to lecture people. I’m just wanting people to say this is what I’ve learned along the way. And I wish I’d done all of this 10 years ago, but I didn’t,” she said.

For more details about the Predatory podcast, go to predatory.com.au

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Originally published as Mum Jen Hoey reveals dangers of online predators after daughter crossed paths with one in a game