The Predators of Social Media

         People believe that they are safe on Social Media and have nothing to worry about. Although Social Media is indeed not safe, this is due to predators that lurk around Social Media. Predators are one of the most feared hazards of Social Media, they can gather information just by looking at others accounts, they track and abduct victims based on others posts on Social Media. These people use a wide variety of different methods to abduct victims and this issue remains one of the most hazardous and if not fatal.

Predators are a common hazard on Social Media, with new technology and applications. This has made it easier for predators as they no longer have to use physical means. Most predators use fake accounts to blend with other teens and children. CBS17 did an article on predators in Social Media and states "Predators populate social media pages with pictures of teenagers they are representing as themselves" (CBS17 Para. 8). This causes children to mistaken them for other teens,  effectively allowing predators to get closer to their victims. Predators often build up a relationship with their victim and connect with them. 

In most cases this is how abductions occur, predators lure children to a location by "Asking them to meet them somewhere". Predators can tell where their victim will be just by looking at their Social Media posts. More often than not, people post where they are, what they are doing, where they will be the next day and even their personal information. This leads to abductions and it can be fatal, NWFDailyNews tells a shocking story of an abduction that started on Social Media and with it ending fatal, stating "The would-be sixth-grader was missing for five days before her body was found Monday. An Alabama man who is a registered sex offender has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, homicide and disposing of her body" (NWFDailyNews Para. 1). This shows the effect of predators online and what they are indeed capable of.

The many causes are what make predators dangerous, they are able to lurk around undetected and take others. With so many horrible outcomes, it is important to educate others on the subject to make them safer. Predators are everywhere, although it is not easy to spot one at first glance, people must be weary online, being vigilant and safe.