most times people who try to meet others falsely lie about their age. you never used a false id? someone who is a predator online doesn't have to give an age..all they have to do is tailor their language to sound like the age they are seeking to target.

you can target someone by their age & likes by their language in conversation..especially on line when people tend to drop their guard. it's an anonymous place..& a child wouldn't even think that way. it doesn't even cross their mind..but a predator would. that is how they blend in..by pretending to be a 12 yr old girl. & that is how they get caught..snagged by someone pretending to be the same. you read all the time of creeps going to a meeting expecting to meet a child & instead find a burly cop instead. oopsy.

where were the kids parents? in the other room, or next to her. they thought she was playing games with her friends probably. who knows. hopefully they will be careful. hopefully she will be too.

she wasn't trying to meet a 30 yr old man to get raped..she probably thought she was going to meet some cool kid who was coming to meet her..maybe 17 or something. i doubt she knew he was that much older. & even if she did..she is 12. not the age of knowing much of anything. that's what like 6th grade? really.

kids make stupid mistakes. they are kids. she might have said i am 14 or 15 because it sounds cooler to be older. kids do that. we all did that...but still preyed on by a pedophile.

& as far as not talking to strangers on line? well ok..wouldn't that rule out everyone here on pc, pretty much all of facebook who you don't know beyond your inner circle, etc. you talk to strangers on line...where do you draw the line today?who exactly is a stranger? there are so many forums, etc..sure you put blocks, guidelines etc but how much control do you have?

look it's a different world...kids text nude pixs or semi nude pixs of each other all over the place & then e mail them to the net..again...how do you control that? there they are talking to people they know..just making really stupid choices.