Predatory Podcast: apps online pedophiles use to target kids revealed
A leading expert has revealed the “cockroach” of the internet, because of the danger it places children in. See the full list of where predators lurk online.
Predatory
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A leading cyber safety expert has labelled website Omegle the “cockroach” of the internet, because of the danger it places children in.
Of all of the social media apps and online sites available, Kirra Pendergast, the Founder and CEO of the Safe on Social group of companies, said Omegle was one of the worst — and such a magnet for paedophiles, it even confesses it on its landing page.
She said the video-messaging website, which pairs random users, does not require any account verification.
“I call it the cockroach of the internet. It’s been around since 2009 [and] the front page says talk to strangers,” she said.
“There’s even a clause on the front page that says predators have been known to frequent this website. And yet you can still access it straight through the surface web out of this country or any other one in the in the world. I don’t know why we’re not blocking it.”
Ms Pendergast told the Predatory podcast children are so obsessed with being online they are going to great lengths to stay connected.
“I heard the other day of a group of young girls that were pooling money, their pocket money between them, so that they could buy a prepaid phone so if any one of them ever got banned from their phone by their parents … they would have a spare that they could use,” she said.
She said the only way to combat this was educating children as early as possible.
“Really early like, four or five [years old] the same as [teaching] body awareness.”
To help parents navigate the gutter that can be social media, here we look at the various apps and sites and their vulnerabilities.
Listen to the podcast below and see the list of apps:
TikTok
Predators can create fake accounts and direct message children — or view and save their pictures and videos — unless privacy settings are in place. The app also allows public comments. Parental controls are available but the Chinese-owned company’s cyber security safety is constantly criticised.
Snapchat
This app allows users to record and share pictures and live videos. Even though messages ‘disappear’ after they are viewed, these can still be screenshotted or saved by other users, including predators pretending to be youths. There have been many incidents of nudes or explicit images shared on the app and older users grooming younger people for sex or sharing sexual pictures and videos.
Predators can strike up conversations with children in the comments section or via direct messaging. This mostly picture and video sharing app also allows you to add locations so predators can find out details about children and their daily habits. Children can make their account only visible to friends and followers.
Twitch
Is an online streaming platform where users aged 13 and over can create videos and livestreams, as well as view content from a wide range of subjects like music, sports, food and gaming.
Twitch has recently added mandatory phone verification requirements to crack down on users under 13 trying to access the app and to prevent child predators targeting youths on the site.
Reports have been made of instances where predators were following children on the app and encouraging them to perform explicit acts in livestreams.
Omegle
Omegle, a video messaging website which pairs random users, does not require any account verification. This anonymity can create a hunting ground for online predators. Because the video chats happen in real time, randomly, they are not moderated, making it easier for predators to target kids. Offenders can also try to access capture nude or sexual images via webcams on live streaming platforms like Omegle. This is known as ‘capping’.
Users can post videos or pictures and tag people and locations. If the profile is public, anyone can comment, allowing online sex offenders to get in touch with children, or they try to direct message them via Facebook Messenger. Kids should only make their profile visible to friends and accept friend requests from people they know in real life.
Facebook Messenger
Anyone with a Facebook account can access Facebook Messenger which is dangerous if children are receiving direct messages from predators. There is a safer option – Messenger Kids – which is a free video calling and messaging app which can be monitored by parents.
This option is available even if a child does not have a Facebook account.
Zoom
Users have been subjected to child abuse being live streamed by hackers who have infiltrated the online meeting platform.
BeReal
This photo-sharing app prompts users to take pictures at the exact same time daily — and share it with friends or the public. Predators can target children who have inadvertently given away personal information during the two minutes they have to snap themselves and the location can also be shared. Users can change personal settings to private so only friends see the posts.
Calculator
This social media app, disguised as a calculator, is a secret place to hide photos, videos and files. Child sex offenders have been known to use this app to store child pornography.
Kik
Users can join public groups to chat, share photos and videos and direct message strangers.
Child sex predators have been known to approach kids via the app, posing as youths under fake accounts. Child sex offenders have also been caught around the world using the app to store and trade child abuse material and pornography. Users can block other users and also report any inappropriate action.
YouTube and YouTube Kids
YouTube users post videos about all different types of content around the world which might be inappropriate for children. YouTube Kids is a filtered version of YouTube. Parents or guardians can also set up screen limit times and block videos.
Wizz
This friends-making chat app introduces strangers and let’s them exchange pictures and videos.
There are no video call options and no parental controls on Wizz which has led to fears it is a hunting ground for catfishing and child grooming of young people.
Wink
Although it was initially an add-on Snapchat app, Wink is now popular on its own. Similar to Tinder, users can swipe left (no) or right (yes) to match with potential friends. Because it is considered more of a dating than friendship app, young users could find themselves targeted by child predators.
Sendit
An app affiliated with Snapchat and used as a ‘feedback app’, users are supposed to be 17 years and over. It is anonymous, which has led to consistent reports of online bullying and catfishing.
Apple Music iTunes
Users can set up profiles on iTunes and predators have been known to contact young people through these profiles. It is possible to tag users on playlists in the app which can lead to children sharing their phone numbers or pictures. Experts fear this is an opportunity for predators to groom or even try to scam money.
Twitter has a sensitive content policy, which includes adult content and graphic violence, and is rolling out a feature to restrict sensitive content for people under 18 but often, people create accounts with fake birth dates. Users are also able to direct message other users, meaning children can get into conversations with people they do not know.
GAMING
PlayStation, Xbox; Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft
Online child sex offenders know these games are frequented by children so they pose as other players, using false names and accounts, to start up conversations that can lead to more sinister intentions where they can suggest going to another app to share explicit pictures and videos.
Discord
A gaming app available on mobile phones, PCs and Mac computers, which allows players to text, share videos and chat via audio or video. This app has been known to expose children to bullying, graphic language and images — even child pornography. Users can block unsuitable content using the app’s explicit content filter, or block individual users.
ADULT SITES
Dating apps
Child predators have been caught approaching single parents or guardians via dating apps to get them to send pictures or videos of their children which can be later shared on the dark web. Also, it can be a gateway to meeting the children in real life, which can lead to sexual abuse and assault. Apps like Tinder, Grindr and anonymous gay chat line FastMeet are targets — and a place where child abuse material is sometimes shared.
OnlyFans
Different types of adult material is posted on OnlyFans, a subscription-based site where creators charge for access to their content.
Bank account details are required so monitor your accounts for any activity in case your children have entered the site using a fake birth date.
Talk to your children about the dangers of sharing explicit pictures and videos.
For more details about the Predatory podcast, go to predatory.com.au
If you have a story to tell, email us at crimeinvestigations@news.com.au
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