*INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY ISSUES MEASURES TO PREVENT RISKS OF ABUSE OF MINORS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

Thursday, July 7, 2022

* In the real world, communities are responsible for generating standards of privacy and social coexistence.

* In the virtual world of social networks these rules change frequently, which puts children and adolescents who frequent them at risk.

MEXICALI.- Due to the development and advancement of technologies such as the Internet, new health and safety challenges have arisen; especially in what corresponds to the use of social networks, since these have contributed to generating a climate of vulnerability among girls, boys and young users, and even among the adult population; This was reported by the general director of IPEBC, Víctor Salvador Rico Hernández.

In this regard, the official warned that the rise of networks has allowed perpetrators to search for their victims on these platforms, either to harass, harass, intimidate, and even consolidate the abuse; Of these, the best known forms are “grooming”, “sexting” and “cyberbullying”.

He explained that "grooming" is a practice where an adult gains the trust of a minor for a sexual purpose; “sexting, in turn, is the exchange of erotic visual content either between young people or with an adult, which can lead to extortion that causes significant psychological damage; likewise, "cyberbullying" is harassment between minors, which due to the massive reach of the Internet, can cause harm to both the minor and his or her family and friends.

He recommended that mothers and fathers be aware that their daughters and sons belong to groups and networks that promote suicide, anorexia, bulimia, pornography and violence; and observe any change in behavior, whether isolation, sudden sadness, morbid talk about death, different eating habits, frequent vomiting, weight loss, silence and confinement for longer than normal and excessive obsession with the computer or the cell phone.

On this, he pointed out that it is necessary for fathers and mothers to be updated on social networks and even navigate with their daughters and sons, warning about the risks that exist; set limits and rules on internet use, such as not posting photos of your place of residence, or phone numbers, among others.

He advised not to give cell phones to girls and boys under 12 years of age, as well as to prevent them from creating profiles; download parental control applications; configure the privacy of the profiles of fathers and mothers to prevent access to photographs of their children; as well as reporting any abuse or harassment suffered by the minor online or in everyday life.

Finally, Rico Hernández made the Line of Life available at 800 911 2000, with 24-hour service, and recalled the IPEBC telephone numbers in Mexicali at (686) 842 7050, in Tijuana at (664) 684 2664, and at (646) 178 8577 in Ensenada; as well as the number (686) 556 7537 of the Addiction Primary Care Centers (CAPA) throughout the state; or, on the official Facebook profile of the Institute of Psychiatry of the State of Baja California where they can receive guidance.