title: How To Protect Children From Internet Predators: A Phenomenological Study.
abstract: Teenage Internet users are the fastest growing segment in the Internet user population. These teenagers are at risk of sexual assault from Internet predators. This phenomenological study explored teacher and counselors' perceptions of how to prevent this sexual assault. Twenty-five teacher and counselor participants were interviewed. A modified van Kaam method was used to analyze the data and develop themes. Participants stated that mainly the lack of parental support and social networking website were the circumstances leading to teenage Internet sexual assault, while teen needs and gratification usually played a role in teen encounters with predators on the Internet. There were 5 emergent themes in this phenomenological study and those themes were; lack of parental support, social networking websites and chat rooms, teenage need for relationships, instant gratification among teenagers, improved parental support.
authors.affiliation: University of Phoenix.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000072117:Counselors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D000070777:School Teachers; D061108:Social Media