Child Saftey on The Internet

Since the 1990s the internet has become a new way for information and ideas to travel at rapid speeds to almost anyone in the world. Unfortunatley many countries have minimal media censorship and as a result, we are oftentimes exposed to words, images, and videos that can pose a risk to our overall health. For those who have grown up in the age of digital technology, statistical research links graphic images of gore and violent pornography seen in media to aggression, anxiety, and desensitization.

In recent years, the explicit content posted online has only grown more diverse and accessible, as most content is never reported or taken down. In addition to the internet, the prevalence of violent video games and graphic horror films also contribute to the impacts of viewing media violence. This is particularly harmful to children that may view such movies and sites while browsing through their own unrestricted media. Despite some attempted safety measures such as the creation of “safe search” on sites such as Google, the steps taken towards making media safer for children have been nearly nonexistent.

Below is a video that shows one of the many examples of how minors could be taken advantage of when they are provided with unlimited internet access and not parents/guardians monitoring their activity:

Throughout the various issues pertaining to the mental well-being of minors and how the dangers of a large amount of content can have negative effects on these children. This next generation is growing up in a drastically different world than the majority of us so it is going to be important when coming up with solutions to ensure the majority begin to develop a healthy relationship with the internet from a very young age.