Reports of pedophiles preying on pre-teens and teens are becoming more and more frequent in our society and in our local communities.

            With the continued expansion and prominence of social media, the child-porn predators are finding it easier to expand their reach and harder to find them.

            Parents, guardians, and other adults should be the protectors and teachers of our young ones when it comes to what should and shouldn't be posted on social media. 

            An emphatic reminder: what goes on social media, will probably never go away and float through cyberspace.  Compromising photos could embarrass you and your family and friends, and will probably come back to bring you regrets.

            Not only do posters need to be careful of what they post or who they send it to, adults need to know that there are sickos who take those harmless photos that you posted of your child and crop their heads onto nude photos of other children and youths to feed their fetish.

            These are people who could live next door, across the country, or around the world, it doesn't matter.  With social media, it's easy to reach everyone, everywhere.

            Advances in technology and social media have resulted in an explosion of internet pictures and videos. Unfortunately, the ease of recording and sharing leads to poor judgement, some can result in criminal charges for the poster – no matter their age.

            And, compromising photographs uploaded to social media or even emailed to a so-called friend could end up as revenge porn for a jilted suitor.

            According to Comparitech, a company comprised of 30 security researchers, writers, developers, and editors, United States companies are required by law to report child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or risk a fine of up to $300,000. However, how thorough the company is at referring cases to the NCMEC depends on its systems and protocols for detecting such material.

            For instance, Comparitech reported that they found that Facebook has a new rule in which images of girls with bare breasts will not be reported to NCMEC. Nor will images of young children in sexually suggestive clothing.

            Yes, to the "woke" or free-thinkers it is not sexually explicit even if it is a minor.  But, each and every person should know the facts and make their own decisions on what to teach their children.         

            There are so many reasons not to put yourself in a compromising web-based situation.  Adults should know better and not be afraid or embarrassed to instruct youngsters of the pitfalls of internet freedom.

            Being a pal is fine, but this is one time when you want to be their parent and their teacher.