Parents who have always been afraid of how video games affect their children will finally have a reason to feel validated
In Europe, a Swiss boy who have for a week been missing was found in the attic of a pedophile’s home in Dusseldorf, Germany; the two had met each other online through a video game the boy was playing called Minecraft.
Although Minecraft is intended mainly for teens and young adults, because of its pixelated design and interactive gameplay, many children as young as eight-years-old play the game with ease.
In Minecraft you can build and design your own world, explore other locations that players all over the world have created, and interact with other gamers in real time.
Photo credit: CEN / Daily Mail
It’s part role-playing, part-adventure, and part-action game. Because of this, many children find this game infinitely appealing.
Like many dangerous things, Minecraft, appears on the outside a harmless video game, but other people find a way to use the game for their personal gain.
That’s precisely what happened to the 12-year-old boy from Switzerland.
“The boy, only known as Paul, sparked an international manhunt after he vanished from his home in the Swiss town of Solothurn a week ago after telling friends he planned to go on the run,” said a Daily Mail report.
“Officers desperately searched for clues as to where the boy might have gone, analyzing his computer as to where he had gone.”
The investigators found that the boy had revealed details including his full name, home address and his real age online.
When they discovered that the boy was talking to a 35-year-old man 350 miles away in Dusseldorf, Germany, authorities raided the property and found Paul hiding in the attic.
Authorities remain unsure whether the boy voluntarily stayed at the pedophile’s house or was held there against his will. However, because the boy was underaged, the pedophile, named only as Werner C., faces kidnapping charges.
Photo credit: Daily Mail
“It is too early to start criminal proceedings for sexual abuse,” a police spokesperson said. “We have already spoken intensively with Paul in the presence of his parents. We are getting an image of what exactly happened, but we still need to complete the investigation.”
After a link between the kidnaper and the child was established, telecommunications company Swisscom warned both parents and children to be on their guard.
“Like in the real world, also virtually you need to protect yourself and be watchful,” a spokesperson said. “It is important that parents talk about all the risks involved of being online with their children.
“You should be aware that although online 13-year old Marco is talking to you, in reality this can be 46-year old Klaus.”
READ: How to teach your child to be a responsible smartphone user
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