The internet is undoubtedly a very brilliant and a progressively more vital source of information distribution and communication. It has remarkably ministered to the development of a lot of economies creating businesses, job opportunities, educational options and a whole lot more which are yet to start. It has also made a way of educating people in ways that never even existed before.
Everything about the internet and the technologies dependent and based on it may seem all amazing and good. Unfortunately, the internet also has its flaws. Nowadays, the internet is also used for the likes of cyber bullying, threats, and child pornography; thus, the increase in the sexual exploitation and harassment of children and the youth. Everyday, predators of such behavior and actions also increases in number and continuously lurk in the cyber space, making it unsafe for children and the youth to stay online.
The days of what used to be regular or normal schoolyard hearsay and fights have reached a height that has become more accessible and dangerous. And the internet has sadly taken part of this deadly trend of victimization. It has reached a level of harassment that involves both threatening and sexual which has begun to be uncontrollable and difficult to eliminate.
A mere posting could include threats, hazing and sexual content that are too easily sent and distributed. These could be easily accessed by a child or young individual who has the liberty to use a computer either at home or outside the house. A simply post of their photo could lead predators to use it for their own personally indecent motives. In these cases, a child's access to a computer and basically the internet is no longer safe as we think it would be. Though the internet thus proves to be a danger for our young ones, it is a given fact that the internet and internet-based technologies has aided a lot in education and researching, and is continuously a big factor in our everyday life. This concept has made it difficult and impossible for us to prevent our young ones from using the internet.
But this doesn't mean that these dangers and predators cannot be stopped or eliminated. It always starts in your own home. It always a plus to educate your children or the young ones inside your home about the dangers they could encounter through the net and educate them on how to prevent being victims. It is also advisable to have the computer at an area in ones home where it is easily seen by everyone at home. Another preventive means is to be aware of the actions of the children and young ones using the computer and accessing the internet: be cautious of how they react towards using the internet and any changes in action that may have been caused by constant use of the computer and internet. If any of these have been proven to be happening, make sure to make the necessary actions such as monitoring the predators, have them reported and make sure that the children or young ones involved are properly spoken to and taught of the lesson to be learned and how to prevent them from happening again.
The safety of children and the youth in general is not only limited to things that are visible and happening outside the home. It is also very much present in homes through the internet and it will always be unless we are aware of it and learn to beat it.
Neoko Cortwell is a freelance writer and web designer. If you want to start your own creative journey to becoming a freelance designer yourself, visit Sitegrinder for more information.
