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CRyan · 06-12-2006, 09:50 AM

While certainly all of the responses above are correct, it is the use of the 360 that can take kids off gaurd. A telephone is one thing. An unassuming device such as a game machine has not seen this kind of activity (at least not reported till now).

Hopefully, parents are making kids aware of new potential predator problems as they learn about them. Talking to strangers on the street, talking to unknown callers. Now online predators. I would bet that most parents have not considered the gaming box sitting in their kids bedroom. Of course it is not the fault of the 360, but it is new - That is the issue here in my mind.

I am fairly certain that kids meet frinds this way all the time. I can see it as being a very (scary) situation where a group of friends are online doing there thing with outsiders joining in. A kid is going to assume it is another kid if the person presents themselves this way. All other parental lessons about other devises or situations are out the window and you have a problem.

It is good for these kinds of stories to hit the media. It makes people aware so that they may protect themselves and their families.

06-12-2006, 09:50 AM	#6 of 11
CRyan Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Local Time: 05:01 AM Local Date: 12-02-2008 Posts: 2,507	Re: XBox a Potential Tool for Predators? While certainly all of the responses above are correct, it is the use of the 360 that can take kids off gaurd. A telephone is one thing. An unassuming device such as a game machine has not seen this kind of activity (at least not reported till now). Hopefully, parents are making kids aware of new potential predator problems as they learn about them. Talking to strangers on the street, talking to unknown callers. Now online predators. I would bet that most parents have not considered the gaming box sitting in their kids bedroom. Of course it is not the fault of the 360, but it is new - That is the issue here in my mind. I am fairly certain that kids meet frinds this way all the time. I can see it as being a very (scary) situation where a group of friends are online doing there thing with outsiders joining in. A kid is going to assume it is another kid if the person presents themselves this way. All other parental lessons about other devises or situations are out the window and you have a problem. It is good for these kinds of stories to hit the media. It makes people aware so that they may protect themselves and their families.