The internet is a topic to be discussed not only because of its potential benefits but also because of the potential dangers it promotes. While many children are exposed to the rising and never-ending growth in cyber upgrades, sites, and links, many are ignorant of the harms associated with those links and sites. Because of the lack of filter systems, specialized sites, parental control, and adult watch function on most sites, it is somewhat onerous to control or modify what children watch or are exposed to online. Most providers require that children be 13 or older to sign up for online programs and other social accounts, however, does this mean a 13, 14, or even a 15-year-old is mature enough to use the internet?
For children, the internet has been a great tool in education, communication, growth in cognitive ability, provision of social and recreational activities, interest in science and technology, and provision of a platform for children to develop an interest in technology and invest in that desire. On the other hand, the internet has promoted negligence among children, increase in cyber-violence including cyberbullying, threatening, and blackmailing. Additionally, because of the internet, children have access to pornography and pornographic materials. There has also been an increase in laziness and indolence among children as they spend more time surfing the internet.
‘’Access to a computer and the internet has become a basic need for education in our society’’ (Conrad, 2010). It is no surprise how digitalized children these days have become and the impact the internet has had on thousands of children all over the world. It has provided a gateway for information, knowledge, and other academic resources. Many children can now turn to the internet to find easy solutions to basic problems, including social, and environmental problems. Information can now be reached even more than ever. This information includes but is not limited to encyclopedias, current events around the world, access to digital libraries across the globe, and other materials. This has made learning even easier and fun as many children do not need to search for printed materials to know what they should. Children these days do not need to be taught by their teachers or be told answers to problems. They can readily find this information on the internet.
Notably, during the pandemic, teachers use online materials to develop lessons and students can now attend virtually and remotely, reducing the spread of Covid-19 infection. Communal learning strategies, buttressed by the internet, allowed students and teachers to interact and enabled teachers to offer more attention to individual students’ concerns, questions, and needs, thus promoting shared learning and educational growth.
Communication cannot be overlooked when speaking about the internet. ‘’The internet has brought communities of students across the globe closer through instant communication’’ (Fitzpatrick, 2011). Basically, communication cannot be accomplished without the internet. Children love to make friends and maintain those friendships. Cyberspace provides a platform for children to communicate with friends far away on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. It provides a very efficient and effective means of sharing pictures, news, and data among children. Increased internet and technology use among children irrefutably has the potential to create a connection for both young and older children which improves their social skills and builds their social circle. Without being physically present, children can share feelings, thoughts, and emotions for their friends to access. For children, it is almost difficult to lose friends because of the benefit of communication offered through the internet.
The internet also plays a role in improving the cognitive ability of children. Internet games help children think, not only critically, but quicker and smarter, and be effective problem solvers. They can think widely, thus, their horizon is broadened. They also quickly scan and process multiple sources of information in a short time. Additionally, children develop an interest in science and technology at an early stage of their lives.
While these are great positives, there has been negligence among children due to uncontrolled access to the internet. They disregard house chores, quality family time, and physical interaction, simply because they are tied to their social media accounts. They decline in their social skills and family skills. This affects them, short term and long term, in that they grow up becoming anti-social and less concerned and over time, they put up a show of apathy.
The internet is also notable for cyber violence among children. Cyber violence is the use of computers and the internet to threaten or facilitate violence. A large percentage of children have experienced cyberbullying in one way or the other. According to research carried out by Cyberbullying Center, "Kids between the ages of 10 and 18, show 21% of cyberbullying. Kids on YouTube are most likely to be bullied at 79%, followed by Snapchat at 69%, TikTok at 64%, and Facebook at 49%’’ (cyberbullying research, 2021).
This is alarming because the more children are bullied, the more children get depressed. Most suicides among children have been attributed to bullying, directly or indirectly. How many more children do we have to lose due to cyberbullying?
Many sexual predators are on the internet stalking and taking advantage of children. This has resulted in children being coaxed into threatening and vicious encounters. Unfortunately, many have fallen victim to this menace. In many instances, they are blackmailed if they do not comply with these predators. Additionally, due to a child’s lack of maturity, they may be tempted to post private information, including home addresses, family plans, and other valuable information that should have otherwise been kept confidential, exposing them and their families to unnecessary attention and dangerous circumstances.
Recently, pornography has been on the rise among children. When a curious child searches the internet, it is almost impossible to conclude a search without encountering sexually explicit materials. Because of the lack of a filter system, children are highly exposed to these illicit contents. Pornography destroys the innocence of children by exposing them to adult activities. When pornographic materials are seen virtually every time a child surfs the internet, their curious mind impels them to find more of it. Consequently, it slowly grows into an addiction, garbling how they think, harrowing up the mind, and ultimately destroying them. This slowly grows into an addiction. Consequently, it alters the way the brain function, and how they interact with others, especially the opposite sex. Porn addicts are forced to act out what they see. This has resulted in teen pregnancy, abortion, a rise in sexually transmitted diseases, and in severe cases, were not monitored, death.
The internet also distorts the way children think. Instead of learning for themselves and exploring better ways of doing things, they turn to the internet for quick answers, making them internet-dependent and internet compulsive. Unfortunately, the internet does not contain any form of verifying information children are exposed to. Thus, it is difficult to differentiate between what is true and false because the credibility of information on the net cannot be ascertained.
It is hard to say if parents are doing more or less in countering this dilemma. Setting some restrictions on internet use could be a great way to protect children from potentially dangerous activities. However, limitations to internet use could hinder a child’s online learning activity, exposure, and digital use, considering this is a digital age and time. Although some sites provide censored information, should children have limited knowledge because of this?
This issue is a delicate one and needs careful consideration. After pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of unrestricted internet access for children, it now seems that I have to take a stand. This is a difficult one because it will be presumptuous to decide without taking facts and statistics into consideration.
After careful consideration, I have concluded that children's internet use should be monitored, and their online activities should be surveilled. Bearing in mind the sizeable positives the Internet offers especially in communication and education; I cannot ignore the even more detrimental impact it is having on many innocent children across the world.
Children who overuse the internet on the computer slowly become problematic. They spend a large percentage of their time downloading video games, ignoring quality family time, social activities, in-person interaction, and time studying. ‘’ 4% to 8% of children and teens may have problems limiting their internet use, and almost 10% of United States youths, 8 to 18 years of age may have internet gaming disorder. There may be increased risks for depression at both high and low ends of internet use (Healthychildren.org, 2016).
This is a concern for me because the more children detach themselves from physical interaction and stick to cyber interaction, the more they become easy targets for cyber predators. They are taken advantage of and wheeled into dangerous circumstances that should have been prevented by just limiting their use. The worst fear of any parent or guardian is to see their children/ward being a victim of child abuse, molestation, or anything like it.
The more children are allowed to surf the internet unmonitored, the more likely they degrade in their study habits and school performance. Increased internet use leaves children with little or no time for schoolwork. We live in a competitive world. It is high time our children realize this. For me, parents should teach their children the principle of time management, including spending more time building their educational lives and other aspects of their lives.
The growth in cyberviolence cannot be overlooked. This has particularly proven problematic for me. Children can easily become victims without their parents even noticing the early signs. Unfortunately, cyberspace has little or no function to monitor cyber violence against children. Cyberbullying alters children's innocent selves. They see themselves differently - worthless and purposeless. This mental depiction often leads them to violent actions, including suicidal thoughts and in severe situations suicide. ‘’ 20% of respondents reported seriously thinking about attempting suicide. All forms of bullying were significantly associated which an increase in suicidal ideations. Cyberbullying victims were almost twice as likely two have attempted suicide compared to youth who had not experienced cyberbullying’’ (Hinduja and Patchin, 2016).
It should be admitted that many children who experienced cyberbullying experienced emotional and social issues going on in their lives and turned to cyber as a quick way to fix their problems or get off their struggles. Unfortunately, this often does not yield a positive result. Parents need to communicate more with their children, find out their struggles, seek ways to fix them, and not allow them to turn to the Internet as a quick way out.
Pornography is even deadlier than ever. Sadly, I have witnessed many children become addicted to pornography because of uncontrolled access to the Internet. They feel they can watch these illicit contents anytime because they have it at their disposal. Regrettably, they become addicts and often time show symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, depression, or other mental health condition. Their brain function is distorted, their social interaction is altered, and how they see the opposite sex is contorted.
Privacy of personal information could be leaked by our children. They may be impressed to share delicate information with strangers, exposing not only themselves but other family members to great dangers.
In conclusion, while the internet has many great benefits for children with wonderful research tools and educational resources, it is important for parents to know where their children’s eyes, fingers, and ears forage worldwide on the net. It is crucial for parents to use features such as parental control and filter software. Frequently and almost entirely parents need to be physically present when their kids use the internet. Then can we protect our children from the vices of the net and promote healthy internet use. Thus, they grow to be principled in that regard.
References
Mackintosh, Interviewed by Hamish. “Peace Netter: Noam Chomsky.” The Guardian, 17 Oct. 2002, www.theguardian.com/technology/2002/oct/17/internetnews.interviews. Accessed 29 May 2021.
Saisan Joanna, Smith Melinda, Segal Jeanne. ‘’Internet Addiction’’. Web. 23 November 2011, http://www.helpguide.org/mental/internet_cybersex_addiction.htm. Accessed 4 May 2021
Cyberbullying: Twenty Crucial Statistics for 2020. (n.d.). Security.org. https://www.security.org/resources/cyberbullying-facts-statistics/
Internet Access and Education: Key considerations for policy makers | Internet Society. (2019). Internet Society. https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2017/internet-access-and-education/
“Constantly Connected: Adverse Effects of Media on Children & Teens.” HealthyChildren.org, 2019, www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Adverse-Effects-of-Television-Commercials.aspx.