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The Anonymity of the Internet
Attempting to legislate the Internet will
not work, as the Internet is global and covers areas
where no single government's rule applies. The jurisdiction
issues make the Internet a haven for fraudulent and
illegal activity.
Child exploitation and the rise of Internet
related crimes is increasing. Child exploitation has
no boundaries; pedophiles exist in every socioeconomic,
ethnic and religious community. Consider these statistics,
20% of children online are approached sexually online.
89% of those advances take place over instant messaging.
Online predators prowl, rebellious teenagers are opportune
targets, and shared personal details often make them
become victims.
This further fuels the discussion of who
is who. Are they really who they say they are, or claim
to be? The Internet is far more complex and anonymity
might in fact provide the protection that surfers are
seeking.
The anonymity of the Internet is a cause
for concern. Pedophiles hide behind the protection of
anonymity, creating ideal profiles being exactly the
friend that impressionable youngsters want them to be.
The fact is that a child doesn't always know with whom
they are interacting with. All of this makes education
critically important.
Children, adolescents, and teens must
realize and understand the risks associated with Internet
activities and modify their personal habits in order
to stay safe online. Sharing private information is
just not acceptable. Parents must realize that the Internet
is part of world in which our children are living, and
as much as we would like to shelter them, it has become
an integral part of their worlds. Much like the warnings
that youngsters today grow up with about not talking
to strangers, parents must redefine who strangers are,
so that their children will accurately understand the
online dangers. The critical element to staying safe
online is to be educated and understand the very real
risks associated with online surfing.
While remaining anonymous is part of the
problem, on the Internet, it might actually be a protection.
If Pedophiles can hide behind screen names and pseudonyms,
why can't children? If an adolescent is participating
in online communities, whether its for educational purposes
or social entertainment, creating an anonymous identity
will help shield their personal information. Personal
information related to location should still not be
shared but the additional layer, might help shelter
the child from unwanted attention.
While anonymity is a protection for the
children, it also allows them the freedom to be children.
Today's employers often search the Internet for information
about potential employees. Additionally colleges and
private schools will often search a students history
on the Internet prior to offering them admission. As
children grow, their views and opinions often change.
The Internet's timeless and endless archive of those
opinions may no longer be an accurate reflection of
who a child has become. Children who post anonymously
can afford the luxury of being a child, without the
evolution of their opinions being available in a searchable
archive.
Anonymity on the Internet might be a
tool to help keep children safe, while venturing into
the global Internet.
For additional tips to keep children safe
online see:
Security Port - http://www.security-port.com
Wired Kids - http://www.wiredkids.org
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
NotePage http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
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