Parents, please be aware! Children are making contact with strangers even through online games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite.

VečerIndependent🔒CenterNov 4

The article reports on the 23rd 'Young People and Crime' conference organized by the Maribor Police Directorate, focusing on the risks children face in the digital world. Robert Tekavec from the Criminal Police Administration warned that organized criminal groups increasingly recruit younger children through online games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, using emotional manipulation and extortion tactics. He noted that perpetrators can be as young as 13 and that anonymity online encourages behavior users might avoid in real life. Dr. Barbara Neža Brecko presented findings from a study involving approximately 2,500 elementary school students, revealing that 30% spend over three hours daily on social networks and more than half encounter inappropriate content. The research highlighted a significant gap between parents' awareness and their children's actual digital activities, including discrepancies regarding participation in online gambling.

Bias read (Center): The article maintains a neutral, informative tone by relying on direct quotes from police officials and academic researchers without adding editorial commentary or value judgments.

Maribor24IndependentCenterNov 3

The Maribor Police Directorate organized its 23rd annual professional conference titled 'Young People and Crime' at the National House in Maribor. The event focused on the theme of youth in the digital age, specifically examining whether non-chemical dependencies, such as smartphone addiction, have surpassed chemical substance abuse. Experts discussed the negative impacts of digital technology traps on children and adolescents, as well as strategies for families and institutions to combat rising dependency rates. Attendees included local and national officials, such as Deputy Mayor Davorka Pregl and police representatives, who emphasized the need for inter-institutional cooperation. The speakers highlighted that while the digital environment is integral to modern youth life, it presents significant risks that require shared responsibility among schools, health services, and law enforcement to address effectively.

Bias read (Center): The article neutrally reports on a professional conference regarding youth crime and digital addiction, citing balanced perspectives from police and municipal officials without employing loaded language or partisan framing.