The Unsafe Internet Highway

The Unsafe Internet Highway
Jerry Maguire
English 125
June 30, 2011
Laura Burke

I. Introduction a. Dangers and risks of internet and social networks b. Whether being bullied online, tempted with all the Internet has to offer or being distracted from their housework, social networks and the Internet need to be used with caution.
II. Body a. Cyber bullying i. kids using Facebook to make fun of others ii. hate groups iii. posting humiliating pics or videos b. Dangers of young kids on social networks/Internet i. pop ups/searches ii. filtering software iii. sign up scams c. Distraction from responsibilities i. spend more time on social networks than doing homework ii. less time being proactive iii. lots of internet devices
III. Conclusion

The Internet these days can be used for just about anything, good or bad. Due to the dangers on the internet, it is not appropriate for children to surf the web unsupervised. The dangers and risks are things such as straying away from safe sites and getting into sites that are not suitable for children. That’s why it takes someone who is old enough to understand the dangers and risks included. The first danger on the internet is cyber bullying; it is usually done by classmates of kids in middle school, against overweight or underweight children, and children who stand out of the norm. Also, inappropriate pop ups and searches occur often even when not meant to. Which can be confusing and tempting to young kids whose curious minds enables them to determine right from wrong. Parents need to be aware of what their children are searching or viewing on the internet. By being unsupervised it is easy for a child to view or have access to social networking that can easily influence the child. In order to prevent children from viewing or searching websites there is software that enables the Internet to be filtered to your preference and to your kid’s age range. Kids can easily access and be distracted by their favorite social media site instead of doing their homework or their chores. As technology advances children spend more time on the internet than being proactive. Whether being bullied online, tempted with all the Internet has to offer or being distracted from their house work, social networks and the Internet need to be used with caution and supervision.
Cyber bullying
Cyber bullying is bullying someone using interactive technologies such as social networking sites, cell phones, interactive games, and instant messages. “It is so easy to say negative things through texting and online because you are not face-to-face with the person you’re talking about” (MacDonald). People are more likely to say extra hurtful things when they can’t see the effect of the person their degrading. Girls are more likely to participate in cyber bullying, and start hurtful rumors about another girl she doesn’t like. Guys on the other hand are more likely to post humiliating pictures or videos of others as a way to make fun of others. While both genders are guilty of all kinds of cyber bullying, both can lead others to commit suicide or become socially confined and depressed. On social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace, there are groups that you can create and people can join. People discus the topic of that group and share what they think about that certain subject. Kids will make groups such as the “I hate so and so group” and would have a whole group just for people to post and discuss stuff about that certain person. Cyber bullying is a very hurtful and cowardly way to make fun of a person.
Dangers
The internet is endless, which in return has a lot of pages unsuitable for young kids that might not know what they are getting themselves into. Mothers are suing sites like MySpace because their young daughters were being contacted by older men and getting sexually assaulted. There are more dangers on the internet beyond social media, pop ups and searches that a child might not have meant to open might propose a threat to them. Even innocent searches have the chance to end up showing inappropriate news, facts, or even pictures and videos the child might be able to view. Such as a porn site pop up that a child can easily click and have access to without even verifying your age. Searches might come up as a hit even when not close to what the kid might have typed. Kids are known to be curious and want to search and click on anything and everything that looks interesting. That’s why they have created filtering software to keep kids safe while surfing the web. This software is called censorware or content-control software and is designed for schools, parents, or public libraries to restrict children from viewing unsuitable content (Hodge). With pop ups that make children believe that just by entering your personal information, you can get a free Xbox 360 or some other prize is easy for a child to be fooled. Kids need to be monitored or taught what is right and wrong on the internet since there is so much for them to get into.
Distraction from responsibilities
Children who are not getting their household chores or daily homework done because of social networks are becoming more of a problem due to the ease and convenience of how children might access there profile. With all the social networks on most all smartphones, kids are able to pull up Facebook, twitter, MySpace etcetera anywhere instantly. San Jose Mercury News released a study that shows a marked increase in internet use starting in 2004. More kids are getting cell phones at younger ages and are pushing school to the side at younger ages. There are more than seven and a half million kids the age of thirteen and younger who are signed up for Facebook (Wong). A kid has to be at least the age of thirteen to sign up for Facebook, meaning more than six million kids lied and said they were older than they actually were states Cnetnews.com. Children these days are a lot more lazy and less proactive due to the spike of the internet and electronics that run off the internet. These devices include the use of cell phones, online video games, and computers. The internet is a little to blame for the obesity rate and laziness of kids in this generation because of the expansion and plethora of fun activities to do on these devices.
With all the dangers of the internet including cyber bullies, unknown interesting pop ups, and just putting off things to do, internet and social networks are something that need to be monitored for kids for generations to come. The only solution to keeping kids accountable on the internet is trying to be good parents, teaching the kids what to look for, and what not to do will only help. Limiting the time children spend on social networks and the Internet should be an action that parents should take. The restrictions on Social networking sites such as Facebook should be increased so only kids of age will be able to join. Kids at really young ages just don’t understand what is completely right and wrong to do on a site like Facebook. Social media and networking sites are not all bad, just the people who don’t use the services for the right purpose. Facebook is a great site to keep in touch with friends and family, but too many people use it either way to often or for the wrong purpose. The internet is great for just about everything, but people just need to be aware of what comes along with the internet at times.

Works Cited
Apuzzo, Matt. "Teens at Risk on Web Sites, Experts Say." Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT). Feb. 19 2006: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.
Harris, Scott Duke. "More Teens Move Their Social Lives Online." San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA). Dec. 19 2007: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.
Hodge, Linda, and Herbert Lin. "A Combined Strategy for Internet Safety." Our Children Vol. 28, No. 6. April/May 2003: 11-12. SIRS Researcher. Web. 01 Jul 2011.
MacDonald, Gregg. "Cyber-Bullying Defies Typical Stereotype." Washington Post (Washington, DC). 02 Sep 2010: T.18. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.
Rulon, Malia. "Social Networking Sites Under Fire." Gannett News Service. 13 Jul 2006: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.
Thornburgh, Dick, and Herbert Lin. "Youth, Pornography, and the Internet." Issues in Science and Technology Vol. 20, No. 2. Winter 2004: 43-48. SIRS Researcher. Web. 01 Jul 2011.
Wong, Wailin. "Millions of Underage Kids Use Facebook, Consumer Reports Says." Chicago Tribune. 10 May 2011: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.

Cited: Apuzzo, Matt. "Teens at Risk on Web Sites, Experts Say." Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT). Feb. 19 2006: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011. Harris, Scott Duke. "More Teens Move Their Social Lives Online." San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA). Dec. 19 2007: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011. Hodge, Linda, and Herbert Lin. "A Combined Strategy for Internet Safety." Our Children Vol. 28, No. 6. April/May 2003: 11-12. SIRS Researcher. Web. 01 Jul 2011. MacDonald, Gregg. "Cyber-Bullying Defies Typical Stereotype." Washington Post (Washington, DC). 02 Sep 2010: T.18. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011. Rulon, Malia. "Social Networking Sites Under Fire." Gannett News Service. 13 Jul 2006: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011. Thornburgh, Dick, and Herbert Lin. "Youth, Pornography, and the Internet." Issues in Science and Technology Vol. 20, No. 2. Winter 2004: 43-48. SIRS Researcher. Web. 01 Jul 2011. Wong, Wailin. "Millions of Underage Kids Use Facebook, Consumer Reports Says." Chicago Tribune. 10 May 2011: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 30 Jun 2011.