october 29- 30, 2016 school alert to parents over video ... · media site called omegle that seems...

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Parents of students at TrinityCollege have been alerted to a“potentially dangerous” socialnetworking site being used byYear 8 boys which randomlypairs them in a one-on-one chatwith strangers.

Omegle, launched in 2009,warns users to “please be care-ful” when using the chat servicebecause “predators have beenknown to use” the website.

In an email to parents yester-day, the head of Year 8 at theCatholic boys’ school, JulianFritz, said the school was awareof at least two cases of the website being used by studentsduring school hours.

Omegle connects strangersin a private text or video chat-room, offering “monitored” andunmoderated “adult” areas.

“I would like to inform you of apotentially dangerous socialmedia site called Omegle thatseems to be popular among Year 8 boys,” Mr Fritz said inthe email.

“Omegle allows randomstrangers to chat (either writtenor video) with your son.

“It is my understanding thattopics are provided as options totalk to strangers. These topicscan be general to very personal(and) intimate questions.”

The email urged parents todiscuss with their children thedangers of using such sites.

Surf Online Safe director PaulLitherland, a former WA policeofficer, said Omegle was one ofthe worst chat sites for childrenbecause there was a high risk ofbeing exposed to online preda-tors anywhere in the world.

“It’s a very reckless site,” hesaid. “You can log into anOmegle page and you can haveanywhere from 10,000-20,000people on a particular session at a time.

“The biggest issue is youreally can’t control who you aregoing to video with.”

Mr Litherland said there had been cases of children being “sextorted” — forced tohand over money to scammersafter being tricked into sendingthem nude images or videosof themselves.

Omegle recommends peopleunder 18 should only the websiteonly with parental permissionand warns that it should be usedat “your own peril”.

School alertto parentsover videochat serviceEXCLUSIVEt Shannon Hampton

Romance is in the air for theWest Coast Eagles today as twoof their star forwards get marriedto their darlings.

Jack Darling will tie the knotwith Courtney Braham atCaversham House and dualColeman medallist Josh Kennedyand Lauren Atkinson will say “Ido” in the South West.

For Darling, 24, and hisfiancee, romance started atPerth’s Ginger Nightclub fouryears ago.

Ms Braham, 27, used her job asa physiotherapist to attract theEagles forward.

“She asked me, ‘Do you need aphysio?’ and I said, ‘As a matterof fact I do’,” Darling said. “WhenI spent time with her I realisedshe was the sweetest, mostgenuine girl on Earth.”

Eight months later, they wereat a wedding at CavershamHouse when Darling told MsBraham he could imaginemarrying her there.

“When we met I knew therewas something really differentabout Jack,” Ms Braham said.

While the pair invited theentire West Coast Eagles team totheir engagement party in 2014,a smaller group of players willattend the wedding.

Andrew Gaff and Scott Lycettare among the four groomsmenand Elliot Yeo, Mark Hutchings,Jeremy McGovern and BradSheppard are on the 120-personguest list.

Darling said he wasn’t aware ofhis big day clashing withKennedy’s wedding, but thesituation was common in thepost-season wedding rush.

“We are pretty limited, thereare really only eight weekends ayear we could do it,” he said.

Claremont designers PallasCouture made Ms Braham’sdress, which she described as“very special”. Claire Tyrrell

Eagles inweddingdoubleup

Picture: Ian Munro

Photo available atwestpix.com.au

The navy hasblown up a pairof old sea mineslikely left overfrom World WarII.

One wasfound by diversat sea offCooktown andthe other on thebeach atNewcastle Bay,Cape York, bothin northernQueensland.

The disposalwork wascarried out byclearancedivers.AAP

Minescleared