How an awkward boy joined a sordid online world by Kurt Eichenwald

This is deeply disturbing.

I mean, that kids are being sexualised to the point where they're actively participating in their own exploitation is really scary, like some variety of technological Lolitas. Other than that, I don't know what to say. It's just really freaky. And it sort of makes you wonder what parents are thinking or whether they monitor what their kids are actually up to online.

And aren't kids being taught about not doing that kind of thing?! Or about the whole thing of, "If a stranger or someone you know wants to do something inappropriate with you or tries to touch you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, scream, run away and tell responsible adults, because those other adults are evil, satanic b@stards," or whatever it was that we all got to learn in Primary School?

Stranger danger so isn't just about someone down the street who might offer you a lolly these days. It's definitely an issue with the 'net, even though the majority of people who use it won't have problems because they take the log-off-and-don't-go-back-there path if something weird happens. Maybe that needs to be taken into account when people are telling their kids about things that are out there to worry about.