Why do kids do this?

4leggedfurries

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 April 2009
Messages
1,825
Location
Sunny Somerset - surrounded by bare scorched field
Visit site
I have just seen on a horses for sale website, 2 adverts that appear to be off the same little girl. She was advertising in the wanted section, both of which were badly written (which makes me think that her parents might not know) and both of which gave away personal details of herself, where she lived and mobile number!

I have emailed the website to ask them to review these two adverts as I am concerned for the girl and if I actually knew who her parents were (I live in the same village) I would take the risk and have a word with them to see if they know.

It makes me so mad when I see this.... I'm not a kiddy person but jeez you just cant trust anyone these days...
 
If you are so bothered and given that you live so close surely you could ring the mobile number provided and ask to meet her and her parents to let them know how dangerous it is. Or you could even ring the mobile and ask to speak to her parents without telling them where you live.
 
I doubt if she's young she has even considered the risk. Just the fact shes desperate for a pony. Good on you for reporting it though, I can't imagine the parents know.
I always feel really sorry for pony less but pony mad kids & teens, not just ads but when you meet them out hacking too or hanging round yards.
 
The website in question actually gives you the option to hide your details and you can then only contact the person by replying to the ad. The website thankfully doesnt have maps like some websites.
Have just had a reply back from the website though, they have advised that they have modified the adverts so her details should now be hidden.
 
is it the childs fault for being naive? or the parents fault for not keeping a closer eye on what their child is doing online?
My daughter has just got FB, she has been told that at the first sign of bad language or befriending someone she doesn't know in person and she will lose the account, she also has me and her dad plus about 5 other 'older' family members as friends who are keeping an eye on things. she only uses her laptop downstairs too.
my son is 2 years older so his pc is in his room, i have the administrator account on it and i can check all his history any time i like, and i do so regularly.
it's up to the adults to keep the children safe imo
 
The website in question actually gives you the option to hide your details and you can then only contact the person by replying to the ad. The website thankfully doesnt have maps like some websites.
Have just had a reply back from the website though, they have advised that they have modified the adverts so her details should now be hidden. .

But that hasn't actually solved the problem has it? The child is still not aware that what she is doing is dangerous and the parents probably don't know that she's doing it.:(
 
I always feel really sorry for pony less but pony mad kids & teens, not just ads but when you meet them out hacking too or hanging round yards.

At last! Someone who understands! :D I also probably have the most unhorsey family and live in the the most unhorsey area in Britain :(:p
 
is it the childs fault for being naive? or the parents fault for not keeping a closer eye on what their child is doing online?
My daughter has just got FB, she has been told that at the first sign of bad language or befriending someone she doesn't know in person and she will lose the account, she also has me and her dad plus about 5 other 'older' family members as friends who are keeping an eye on things. she only uses her laptop downstairs too.
my son is 2 years older so his pc is in his room, i have the administrator account on it and i can check all his history any time i like, and i do so regularly.
it's up to the adults to keep the children safe imo

I totally agree!

Out of curiosity as I am a nosey so and so. Can I askhow old your children are? and does your son know you can monitor his activity? He may be in for a shock if he doesn't :D
 
I maybe wrong..... but I thought someone had to be 13 and over to have a FB account?

I believe you're right, it's 13. However lots of younger kids are on it. They lie about their age (if you put your real age in it won't let you in). But hopefully in most cases the patents oversee very carefully, so they can't come to any harm.
 
is it the childs fault for being naive? or the parents fault for not keeping a closer eye on what their child is doing online?

Agree... My daughter is 8 so no FB of her own even though umpteen of her school friends are on there... She gets to play some games on my FB and uses Disney Fairies etc - with strict instructions about chat/friend requests... Son is 15 next week and I have his pw's and will randomly check what he's been up to... If you're a bit internet savvy kids also forget some of us have around since pre internet days and were playing with hulking laptops when 8mb was awesome and 14k dial up was still unreliable... We can be very capable of accessing surfing history etc... :D
 
I believe you're right, it's 13. However lots of younger kids are on it. They lie about their age (if you put your real age in it won't let you in). But hopefully in most cases the patents oversee very carefully, so they can't come to any harm.

If that's the case then surely parents shouldn't be overseeing what their children are getting upto on FB, they should be deleting the account? Rules are there for a reason!
Before anyone jumps on my case, yes I do have a teenager who does not have a FB account, although he would like one I will not set one up for him as he has learning difficulties and is incapable of using an account in the way it is intended! End of.

I totally agree with OP that it is distressing to see ads written by someone who is possibly a minor, but in this day and age with children being taught from an early age how to use a PC it's all become to easy for it to happen and most of the time go un-noticed.
 
My son is almost 15, he hates social networks! He uses the 'net for school research and youtube for cheats on his xbox games, that's it. He has online membership, and when he is online he often plays my brother, who is a gaming junkie so he is the one who often keeps an eye on what he is up to on there.

I don't ban it completely, because of his friends being online too, I believe in a certain amount of freedom, and he respects that, in this day and age, most of his friends have that access, I'm not going to be the one who stops him joining in the conversations he has at school about who 'won' the football match they had online last night!

My son doesn't even have a computer in his room, he can't see the point, as he likes TV too much! :D

He doesn't swear, stay out late and is very polite. Can't for more than that, oh, and his teachers adore him! I think we have the right balance going on...
 
Top