Kidnapping for girls is an online game expert "Use in front of parents" September 7, 18:56
A case in which a fourth-grade elementary school girl in Yokohama was taken in a car.
A 38-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of abduction of a minor allegedly said, "I met a girl online."
Regarding the online games that became the point of contact, experts say, "When children use it, put restrictions that they should apply and make sure that it is used in front of their parents."
Online games on smartphones that parents no longer use Get acquainted with suspects
Akira Otake (38) in Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, was arrested on the suspicion of kidnapping a minor on the 2nd of this month, saying he had taken a 9-year-old fourth grader girl to a car in Yokohama.
He admitted that he was accused of the investigation and stated that he met the girl online.
According to the investigation so far, the girl was playing online games by connecting to Wi-Fi with a smartphone that her parents did not use.
In addition, Otake is suspected to have promised to meet the girl in advance by using the voice call function that allows game participants to communicate with each other.
Similar incidents in various places
Cases of getting acquainted with online games and getting involved in incidents have been happening all over the world.
Otoshito In September, a man in Kawasaki was arrested for bringing a teenage girl from the Kushiro region of Hokkaido he met in an online game to his home.
The girl was protected at the man's home in Kawasaki.
In September last year, a man with an unspecified address was arrested for carrying a teenage girl in Ishikawa Prefecture whom he met in an online game for 15 days.
The girl was protected in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture.
Online games are rapidly becoming popular
The popularity of smartphones has led to a rapid increase in the number of people who enjoy online games by connecting a game console to the Internet or downloading game applications to smartphones.
Some popular games are said to be played by 350 million people worldwide.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications last year, 80.2% of 6 to 12 years old use the Internet, and nearly 60% of 13 to 19 years old cited online games as the purpose of using the Internet. is.
"Maybe you're a trusted person"
Masafumi Yasukawa, President of the Japan ICT Counselors Association, who is familiar with children's internet troubles, believes that this incident was abused by an online game that allows people to enjoy games and communicate at the same time with people who are far away. ..
President Yasukawa said, “As for online games, there are times when a relationship of trust develops as people collaborate and achieve goals while chatting in chat. For girls, it is not a stranger but "Isn't it?"
On top of that, he said, "I would like parents to put in place restrictions such as age restrictions, understand the content of the game that their children are using, decide where and when they should use it, and make sure that they use it in front of their parents." By paying attention, you may be aware that you have promises to meet strangers."