HARM IS JUST A MOUSE CLICK AWAY

Though a valuable information resource, the Internet caused explosive growth for the pornography industry. Currently, there are over 300,000 pornographic web sites on the Internet, according to David Burt of N2H2, and this number is growing every day. It is essentially the fastest, cheapest and most anonymous pornography outlet available. Only certain commercial sites require a credit card to enter, and most sites display hardcore "teasers" through which computer users connect to pornography sites within seconds.

The most dangerous aspect of the Internet is its use by pedophiles. Child molesters and predators use the Internet to pose as youngsters themselves to communicate with other children, expose them to pornography and arrange to meet them in person. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that one in five children age 10-17 who regularly use the Internet have received a sexual solicitation while online. One in four were unwillingly exposed to images of naked people or people having sex.

There are ways to combat these problems and protect our families. The National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families believes it is important for people to be educated on Internet safety issues and ways to deal with the problems. Education and parental involvement is vital, but use of technology to monitor, block or filter content is extremely helpful. Visit www.FilterReview.com for information on finding a service that is right for you.