The Adverse Effects of the Internet on ChildrenMichael W. ChitwaM00502568

Introduction

Last 10 years, exponential increase in internetworking and the use of computing devices. The Internet of yesteryears which was made up basically of plain text and characters and was used for research purposes is no longer that limited.

Fastest growing technological areas. Internet speeds and bandwidth have increased, enabling one to watch video, which includes high-definition movies, music videos, cartoons and other forms of multimedia over the net.

High-end mobile smart phones with the ability to stream video over the internet and broadband internet connection that enables a user play massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) with thousands of players across the globe in the comfort of his or her home.

Introduction, cont’d.

Young people use the internet for schoolwork, online gaming, social networking and chatting, and a host of other popular activities.

However, this lack of a common agreement on what is the right approach to educating and protecting children adds more challenges online experience and welfare.

In addition to that, cultural and geographical differences in legal and social norms have made it more complicated to find a universally accepted view of what defines a person as a child, or what is appropriate for a child making it hard to define what inappropriate content and behaviour is.

Ethical IssuesCognitive Development Cognitive development is a field of study in

neuroscience and psychology which focuses on the development of a child in terms of information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, language learning and other aspects that pertain to brain development and cognitive psychology. Not only is early childhood a period of amazing physical growth, but it is also a time of remarkable mental development. Childhood sees the cognitive abilities associated with memory, reasoning, problem solving and thinking continue to emerge.

Ethical Issues, cont’d.Respect for Privacy Private information can be posted and

shared by young people without considering the potential consequences. Children can easily sign up for a game or subscribe to a chat room service. Little do they know that these free online services usually collect user data and statistics without their knowledge.

Ethical Issues, cont’d.

Online Marketing to Children Online marketing/advertising

is the use of the Internet to deliver promotional marketing messages to consumers. According to an online survey, 87% of the most popular websites frequented by children include some form of advertising. Advertisers and marketers can use the internet to target children and gather personal information from them for marketing purposes. Websites can invisibly gather information about children’s interests.

Ethical Issues, cont’d.Media Literacy Media literacy is the ability to access, analyse,

evaluate and create media in a wide variety of media modes, genres and formats. Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages they receive from television, radio, newspapers, Internet, billboards, books, magazines, music, video games, etc. media literacy is an effective and engaging way to apply critical thinking skills to a wide range of issues.

Social Issues

Truancy Truancy is the intentional unauthorised

or illegal absence from compulsory education. A child plays truant when he or she fails to turn up for school out of their own free will, without giving a valid excuse such as medical reasons. Truancy can also be aided by the parent themselves who do not monitor their children’s activities.

Children, especially those who are addicted to the Internet and other technologies, may find themselves skipping school or pretending to be going there, only to end up going to their favourite Internet shop to surf the web for the whole day for games, social media, pornography. A child’s time spent on the Internet that is not managed can lead to such an addiction.

Social Issues, cont’d

Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile delinquency or youth

crime is defined as the participation in illegal behaviour by minors, that is, individuals younger than the statutory age of the majority. Children can pick up anti-social behaviour from the Internet. The Internet is a vast library of unrestricted information that is accessible by a simple click of the button. Children are easily influence by their surroundings and what they perceive around them. Research has shown that persons exposed to negative influences earlier in their lives are likely to become social misfits.

Social Issues, cont’dCyber Bullying Usually targeted at children, preteens or teens, occurs

when children or even adults use digital media deliberately to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person, usually a child. The victim is usually tormented, threatened or harassed continuously until he/she cannot take it any more, leading to severe depression, anxiety, severe isolation or worse. Online expressions of behaviour manifest as offline behaviours, such as bullying, clique-forming, and sexual experimentation. Bullying, which is common with adolescents, is made even easier with just a click of the mouse and an impersonal connection.

Social Issues, cont’d

Child Predators The increasing popularity

of the Internet has led to a new kind of threat on the innocence of the children. The most common activities that children partake in on the web are video gaming, chat rooms, emails, blogs, social networking sites and instant messages. This provides are good hunting ground for paedophiles to find their victims.

Social Issues, cont’d

Addiction to Internet

To much time spent on internet can hinder development and stagnate intellectual growth.

Distortion from reality

Unable to tell the difference between virtual reality and physical reality.

Legal IssuesNot enough verification of the child’s age You can very easily log onto a web page without it requiring

that you verify your age. Most social networks like Facebook require that you be at least 13 years of age to be able to register for an account with them. Someone younger or even an adult posing as a child can easily register for an account and begin using social media as a market for child trafficking or pornography. Legal laws require that all sites producing adult content should state it explicitly before a user can click on the site to enter. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was enacted by the American Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children’s access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet.

Legal Issues, cont’dInformation sharing and disclosure Information sharing and disclosure is concerned

with giving the body your are registering with or agreeing to use their product, the right to have access to your personal information in exchange for that service they are offering. This data is usually used for marketing and statistical purposes. A child lacks the cognitive skills of an adult to be able to decipher the long blocks of text which make up a disclosure agreement. This in turn violates the privacy laws put in place to protect the consumers.

Legal Issues, cont’dBreaches of data Breaches of electronic data have become a major

problem, as more providers switch to electronic systems. In addition, interoperability of systems is expected to create yet more breaches, as information is traded between networks. Children’s accounts on social websites are prone to online marketing and theft of data without their knowledge. Children are easily lured by bright colours, flashy lights, animations and other marketing gimmicks that are likely to draw their attention to something.

Legal Issues, cont’dParental Responsibility It is every parent’s or guardian’s duty to

be the first defence against online activity to protect their children from the Internet, otherwise they could risk prosecution. A child who is being well brought up and shown the responsible way is likely to take the necessary action in the event that something unsound occurs.

Professional Issues

Computer Misuse As IS professionals, we should

always practice good codes of conduct when it comes to using computer. Children can be easily fooled into clicking on a link through false information offered to them by a program, hence making them more vulnerable.

Prior to 1990, there was no legislation in place to protect Internet users and tackle problems due to computer misuse. The Computer Misuse Act, 1990 was designed to protect computer users against wilful attacks and theft of information. Some of these offenses include hacking, unauthorised access to computer systems, purposefully spreading malicious and damaging software, etc.

Professional Issues, cont’dConflicts of interest Sometimes, an IS professional’s

judgement may be compromised when it comes to making a decision based on his interests and those of the child. In such a situation, the professional should use his best judgement to assess the situation and better still, ask for the assistance of a third party so as to have a clean plate.

Professional Issues, cont’dMisinterpretation of software products A software developer may directly or

indirectly lie to the child or the child’s guardian concerning a software product, game, etc. E.g. convincing a child to click on an website link to win a prize or telling the child’s parents to purchase a piece of software that can do something that it cannot. One should not take advantage of the fact that other people know less than you do.

Professional Issues, cont’dRevealing of confidential information You should not pass confidential material

for marketing purposes or other reasons without consent, more so for children who do not have the mental capacity to give such information. A website administrator using his skills to get information from children is an offence and goes against the very codes of professional conduct.

Recommendations Child monitoring Decide when they can/cannot go online Education – not to talk to strangers

Not downloading unknown data/images Communicating to adults

Monitoring sites frequented by children Child filters – increase security & privacy Evaluate the company they keep Age of consent

Conclusion

The web offers a lot of information from which a child can learn from. However, we need to distinguish between the good and the bad, and what is appropriate for a child.

It is therefore a social responsibility to bring up and protect a child, not only as the parents but the whole society.

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http://www.humanipo.com/news/226/kenya-records-9563-increase-in-internet-use/ [Accessed 9 May 2014].

Kummer, M., 2012. Children and the Internet. [Online] Available at: http://www.internetsociety.org/children-and-internet [Accessed 9 May 2014].

Media Literacy, 2014. What is Media Literacy?. [Online] Available at: http://medialiteracyproject.org/learn/media-literacy [Accessed 23 May 2014].