Police around the world are waging a daily battle against an epidemic of online poisoning, where the dark business of exploiting children sexually feeds the lurid cravings of paedophiles, who are willing to pay heavily for this destructive activity.

In recent years thousands of children have been made victims in a terrible evil that continues to ruin lives, and has created a new challenge in the never ending war against crime. Even with key players behind bars, the practice continues.

What is even more shocking, is that some children have been abused in this manner by their families, especially in poverty stricken areas, where just about anything is done for money.

It may seem incomprehensible that anyone would stoop to the level of exploiting their own children sexually for financial gain, but police in several jurisdictions uncover such crimes, and have rescued many traumatised children.

Modern technology has opened many windows of learning, and continues to do so, but just as guns in the wrong hands cause tragedy, modern technology misused, can be equally damaging.

No place on earth is immune from online crime, and parents today need to know that it is what they don’t know, that could be a serious problem, as many children these days have communication gadgetry that previous generations never dreamed of. In other words many parents today are unaware of what their children are listening to or watching.

Lives have actually been lost as a result of online negativity that has included bullying, and misguided cyber space relationships, that have ended tragically.

The important factor here is that when parents turn a blind eye to this part of modern technology, they could be leaving a young mind open to explore the dark side of online activity. And that just might result in long range social problems.

Here in Bermuda we hear so much about the need to create jobs, and improve our educational system. But in a sense, that is like putting a new coat of paint on your roof, while the living room is on fire. That fire is really the breakdown of discipline, and respect, that seems to be spreading with many of our young people.

I was passing a group of students from a high school recently in Hamilton, and even though I was within feet of them, they used crude profanity without a second thought. There was a girl present, who questioned why they cursed so much, but she used the same language in the process.

I could not help wondering what their parents would have thought, had they heard that exchange. Are we prepared to accept this type of behaviour as a part of today’s culture? If that is the case we can talk until we are blue in the face about this, or that, educational system, but when our core values crumble, it could all be in vain.

The recent incident of a boy threatening the life of a schoolteacher should have sent shock waves throughout our communities. Although it is not the first time a teacher has been threatened, the wake-up call is clear. The boy was expelled from the school, but the signs are there, that Bermuda could be entering new ground of anti-social behaviour never seen before.

Yes, we do have success stories about young people, and that is good, but Bermuda needs to face the reality that the ball has been dropped in teaching respect, and discipline, early in the home.

Some of this negative behaviour is starting to impact our basic way of life. When bus drivers express fear for their safety, alarm bells should be ringing throughout our communities that something is dreadfully wrong in the Island’s social infrastructure. If our authorities are hesitant to grab this problem by the throat, out of fear of criticism from those who prefer to soft paddle the issue of discipline and respect, then the future could be a big question mark.

After all, it is not likely children with no respect for proper values, will be able to teach their offspring decency and respect. It is just an ugly truth.

Bermuda is currently connected to the world through online technology, and that means even our children could become victims to harmful material.

We need to at least address the potential for danger, if we hope to build a healthy and safe society. It is not a subject that will fade simply because it is unpleasant. When a parent is in the dark about their child, they are in the dark.

Parents need to talk to their children regularly in this strange world of online madness.

Modern technology has many positives, especially in the business world, but even there, criminals are constantly seeking ways to swindle people out of thousands of dollars. However exploiting children is something every parent should be concerned about.