Virtual Worlds - Real Dangers

 Second Life, the virtual world created by Linden Labs, is growing every day. It is not a video game but a virtual world that parallels our real lives (1st Life). Facebook and YouTube rule young kid’s lives but Second Life is possibly the newest biggest threat that teens will be facing. When the video game Grand Theft Auto -San Andreas Fault first came out, parents were outraged at the adult content which caused quite a controversy. Second Life has the potential to be much worse, and the most frightening thing about it for kids is that it is live (in real time). The characters are real people from all walks of life. Real people who have created avatars are controlling them.  Rape, torture, bondage, virtual suicides, human sacrifices, and toilet sex are just a few of the sickening things that young kids can be exposed to.  Some users are creating child avatars which can virtually interact with adult ones. This in itself creates a slippery slope, especially for people that are attracted to child molestation and abuse. Since Second Life is based on an open-source concept, users can create their own buildings and devices which are only limited to one's imagination. Even Linden labs cannot predict where or how this world will change in the future. Parents, law enforcement, and child advocates should be concerned and alarmed on how this virtual life will affect kids and the predators who prey upon them.  It it harmful when children are exposed visually to negative behaviors, but extremely damaging when children actively participate in virtual dangerous behaviors.

Click here for YouTube Link about Dangers of Second Life

Congressman Mark Kirk  of Illinois - discusses dangers of Second Life

How much money is pumped into Second Life?(view graphs on right-side of page)

Internet Safety Resource - Andrew Yeager

For more information - Contact

Lt. Joseph Rampolla (201-391-5400 ext. 5241)

JRampolla@ParkRidgePolice.com