Safekeeping Children from Internet Hazards Report

          With technology and the Internet becoming more and more integrated with everyday life, parents and teachers should not only consider its benefits in children but also the different damages it may cause.

          When researching for this report I found staggering statistics on children’s Internet use that adults have to be aware of. In a study conducted in 2004, researchers have found that 98% of children aged 9 to 19 are online, and 36% of them did not receive any instruction on how to use it safely; the study was done over a decade ago – imagine how much worse the numbers are today, with advancements happening almost daily, making the internet even more accessible to children.

          The most commonly listed Internet hazards children have are data theft, cyber-bullying and sexual predators, which can all become possible with sites such as Facebook. Facebook was made to reconnect with old friends, and stay connected with new ones; I’m sure that when Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, that was the purpose he had in mind. However, just as guns are designed for security instead of criminal activity, Facebook may cause more problems than solutions if not used properly.

          In education, the Internet is used to access updated information that may not be readily available in books. Whenever I Google anything, one of the first suggested webpages/results I see is Wikipedia, and this happens without fail. Wikipedia is a website wherein anyone in the world can just type information onto a webpage whether it is true or not, right or wrong. Children who are using search engines for homework or simply because they are curious about something may become misinformed.

          I undeniably feel the Internet is the best thing that has happened to the world since the invention of the wheel, but it is also undeniable that the Internet is also the scariest invention in mankind. It’s powerful and it’s limitless; anything can happen online. Adults, parents and teachers have the role of protecting children, who are vulnerable users, from these Internet hazards. They also need to teach them how to protect themselves; simply by talking to the children about the different dangers that exist can prevent them from becoming a victim. Becoming aware of the many Internet hazards is the first step to becoming protected from them.

Written by: Frankie Merilleno