Special Reports

Protect Your Kids From Text Messaging Predators

BOSTON (WBZ) ― It's quickly becoming the most popular way for teens to communicate -- text messaging.

The question is: Do you know who is texting your child and what they are saying? There's new technology to help parents keep up with this trend.

Many parents, like Sophia Griffin of Melrose, have talked to their children about the dangers of the Internet, but not about cell phone safety. "To be honest with you, I haven't put as much time into text messaging and the phone," says Sophia.

But experts say it's time for parents and schools to move beyond the Internet because predators already have.

"It's harder to track text messaging and the suspects know this. Also, when kids go to school, they don't usually take their computers with them, but kids take that cell phone everywhere," says investigator Mike Harris.

Too often parents learn the hard way. The mother of a 13-year-old who does not want to be identified was stunned when she found out her daughter met someone on a chat room using her cell phone. The girl thought she was talking with someone her own age, but it turned out to be a man. They eventually met and she was assaulted. "It was the worst day of my life," says her mom, "I didn't even know you could get into a chat room using a cell phone."

So how can you keep track of your child's calls and text messages? There's a brand new software program on the market. It's called RADAR. We asked Sophia Griffin and her 12-year-old daughter, Mary, to try it. You upload the software to the phone and then create a list of the people your child is allowed to call or text. Developer Bob Waters explain what happens. "If anybody calls, e-mails, text messages or sends a picture to her child with someone not on that list, mom and dad receive a real-time alert on their phone."

Parents not only see the phone number, but the actual message. After trying it for several days, both Sophia and Mary liked the idea. "It's a very comforting feeling," says Sophia.

And Mary? "If a stranger says it's someone in your class and it's not, and they say you want to hang out tomorrow, mom and dad will know it."

But not all teens share Mary's point of view. "I think it's an invasion of privacy," one teenage girl told us.

Another said, "If they don't look at the message I would be fine."

RADAR costs about $10 per month. Sophia Griffin says it's well worth the price, "Absolutely if it helps your child or keeps her away from harm's way."

Right now, RADAR only works with certain phones and carriers and you should check with the company to see if it's available for your model.

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