In this world of cyber-technology, we can do almost everything we want through current technologies. Thanks to the Internet, now we can acquire information on many things in just a split second. People can become famous in hours or collapse in seconds. The Internet also acts as a network which is able to connect people all over the world for information exchange.
However, behind this conveniences and knowledge that this technology provides us, do we realize the risks that may affect us especially our children?
Just like adults, children nowadays also can access the Internet worlds without limits. The question is, can they judge and differentiate what is good or bad for them? Can they protect themselves from being trapped by advertisement by companies promoting their products or from being scammed by strangers?
Can they even protect themselves from pornography sites that suddenly pop up on their screens? Do they have enough knowledge or experience to make judgment calls? All these factors will affect their growth throughout their lives and affect their moral values.
So how can we protect our children from risks on the Internet? In early August this year, the government planned to introduce an Internet filter software named ‘Green Dam’. The software could protect our children by filtering away pornographic material. However, technology would not be the best answer to protect our children from the Internet risks.
Technology was created by man thus even a filtering system might be able to be bypassed or circumvented through proxy servers. Hackers around the world are doing such a job pretty well.
Furthermore, a recent news article unveiled the truth of what companies which manufacture ‘child guardian’ software company are up to. An American ‘child guardian’ software company, The Sentry and Family Safe, had unethically recorded or downloaded conversation among children throughYahoo, MSN, AOL and other websites and chatrooms. This was then sold to other companies that targeted children such as computer games companies and film-makers.
With this information, these companies could study the interests or preferences of children and develop a marketing strategy that will win their hearts. This incident has warned us that we cannot depend on technology alone to take care of our children. Parents should take up the responsibility to protect and guide their children.
They shouldn’t cite ignorance and assume that their children who have access to the Internet in are safe. The worlds of the Internet can do many more things than what we can imagine.
Other than the pornography issue, children also might provide important data such as where they study, their house addresses and income levels of their family to a stranger. These information are enough to lead you and your family into a risky situation.
Education will be the solution to protect your children. Children need to be educated to evaluate the pros and cons of the Internet. Parents can provide guideline on how to eliminate or at least minimise risks. Parents can also refer to other source of information on how to protect their children from Internet risks and media influence.
For example, Fomca has launched a ‘Protecting our children’ campaign with the theme ‘Protect Our Children from Risk and Influence of the Media’. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness among parents about the urgency to protect our children from these risks.
Brochures with tips and guidelines on how to protect our children from undue media influence are being distributed to educate the public especially parents.
