Sexual predators, pornographers and prostitution rings are capitalizing on the rising popularity of mobile devices and social media to victimize children, say police and child safety experts. CyberTipline, the nation’s hotline for reporting sexual exploitation of children, received 223,374 reports in 2010, nearly double the 2009 number.

The soaring use of social networks, online games, smartphones and webcams has translated into “more opportunities for potential offenders to engage with children,” says Ernie Allen, CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. read more…