A new legislation will mean predators who groom children online will be the target of tough new laws.

The legislation, introduced by the federal government on Thursday, will give police the power to intervene before predators have the chance to act and before a child is harmed, reports 9 news.

A new sentence of 10 years in jail for convicted offenders is also included in the draft laws.

It comes 10 years after 15-year-old, Carly Ryan, was murdered by a 50-year-old man who posed online as a teenage boy.

Her mother, Sonya Ryan, has worked with the government on developing the legislation.

“This bill will ensure young Australians have a greater protection from online predators and serve as a significant deterrent for those who would do them harm,” Justice Minister Michael Keenan told parliament.

What is grooming?

Pia Marshall, previously shared a post on MoM about keeping your children safe online, she wrote, “Online predators frequent chat rooms and online video games, posing their profile as a young boy or girl.

Grooming a child online, is similar to that of grooming a child offline. ‘Grooming is the predatory act of maneuvering another individual into a position that makes them more isolated, dependent, likely to trust and more vulnerable to abusive behaviour.’

It starts with the predator striking up a conversation. They then begin to show an interest in your child and form some sort of ‘friendship’ with them.

Worst case scenario, your son or daughter organises to meet their ‘new’ friend, putting themselves in potential danger.”

Last week we shared how a young girl was targeted online via the popular app – musical.ly. Her Melbourne mother was horrified when a stranger calling himself ‘the real Justin Bieber’ asked her eight-year-old daughter, Charlie, to send him nude photographs. Read the full story here.

Last month we also shared a Victorian man pleaded guilty to 62 abuse charges after he coerced young girls into sending him explicit photos and videos. Read that horrifying story here.

Read more:

• We need to address technology-facilitated domestic violence
• Online predator charged over grooming and abusing 22 girls
• Horrified dad found sick messages on his sons iPad game

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