Internet Risk
Internet Risks and Our Response
1)Introduction
As our society becomes more urban, and life becomes hectic and busy for both parents and youth, the youths face more issues of modernity than before. Alienation, loneliness, depression become more prevalent. Many youths also have access to the internet. With the ready availability of broadband, and generally an improvement in the telecommunications industry, especially in the urban areas (partly due to the government's push to attract investments and business for MSC), internet risks which were once more prevalent in the West or the more technologically advanced nations are upon our youths in Malaysia. 1
2)Current Trends
a)Information Explosion
The advent of the World Wide Web has created a huge bank of information. However since it is uncensored and un-moderated, anyone can post any kind of information and resources on the internet. Pornography has become the curse of this information age.
b)Communication Revolution
Other than e-mails, internet chats, instant messaging, the youths are now into participating in social networks like "Friendster" and into on-line journaling on "Web-logs", more popularly known as "Blogs". It is also not unusual for them to use "on-line dating" services. Spaming, web-bullying, web-scandals, hacking and cyber myths have become very real threats as a result of unchecked use of internet communication tools.
c)Information Exchange
There are also many new kinds of newsgroups, clubs, bulletin boards which are started on the web where people exchange information. In addition, there are many peer-to-peer platforms for exchange of files and information that can by-pass the internet but are still very much part of the lifestyle of info-savvy youths (e.g. in hostels, colleges and universities). These peer-to-peer networks can become breeding grounds for insidious information as well as pornography
d)Gamming culture
Computer games have evolved greatly from DOS based games to
1)Introduction
As our society becomes more urban, and life becomes hectic and busy for both parents and youth, the youths face more issues of modernity than before. Alienation, loneliness, depression become more prevalent. Many youths also have access to the internet. With the ready availability of broadband, and generally an improvement in the telecommunications industry, especially in the urban areas (partly due to the government's push to attract investments and business for MSC), internet risks which were once more prevalent in the West or the more technologically advanced nations are upon our youths in Malaysia. 1
2)Current Trends
a)Information Explosion
The advent of the World Wide Web has created a huge bank of information. However since it is uncensored and un-moderated, anyone can post any kind of information and resources on the internet. Pornography has become the curse of this information age.
b)Communication Revolution
Other than e-mails, internet chats, instant messaging, the youths are now into participating in social networks like "Friendster" and into on-line journaling on "Web-logs", more popularly known as "Blogs". It is also not unusual for them to use "on-line dating" services. Spaming, web-bullying, web-scandals, hacking and cyber myths have become very real threats as a result of unchecked use of internet communication tools.
c)Information Exchange
There are also many new kinds of newsgroups, clubs, bulletin boards which are started on the web where people exchange information. In addition, there are many peer-to-peer platforms for exchange of files and information that can by-pass the internet but are still very much part of the lifestyle of info-savvy youths (e.g. in hostels, colleges and universities). These peer-to-peer networks can become breeding grounds for insidious information as well as pornography
d)Gamming culture
Computer games have evolved greatly from DOS based games to