Internet Predators, Research Paper Example

The Internet is increasingly becoming a dangerous place for teenagers as well as children as their online profiles are often attractive to aggressive federal prosecutors and sexual predators The use of social online media like blogs, text messaging and chat rooms by adolescents  has seen tremendous increase  in the recent past due to increased ease of access.  For instance, a recent report by Pew foundation (Pewinternet.org, 2007) showed that approximately 64% of adolescents aged between 12 and 17 engaged in some type of online social networking and about 47% of teens reported posting photos on the internet where others could see them with 89% of those who posted photos reporting that people give comments on the images. Posting personal information which can lead to one being identified on the Internet is a general public concern and the news media shows that online social communication may cause more threats than benefits to adolescents (Robert Z., 2007)

Many children are well informed when it comes to technology with their parents often struggling to keep up and therefore children who frequent chat rooms on their own are more likely to fall victims of pornography or luring (Marcum, C. M. 2006).

Internet luring is has become a common practice today whereby internet perpetrators approach children online. Exchange of pornographic images is also common and even the possibility of meeting the perpetrators face-to-face.

Usually children who have had more serious forms of abuse will be affected in to adulthood and consequently risks of post-traumatic depression, stress, with the possibility of them being re-victimized. Further teens are more likely to abuse substances due to low self-esteem with the immediate consequences being smoking, risky adolescent behaviour, prostitution and pregnancy.

These children get to do internet activities during their free time after school in absence of adult people and therefore if they are enrolled for after school care programs they can engage in more beneficial activities and hence cover up the free time they utilize in such activities (Marcum, C. M. 2006).

References

Marcum, C. M. (2006)”Identifying Obscure Manipulations: An Analysis of Online Chat Room Transcripts Between Internet Predators and Adolescents” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology (ASC), Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, . Retrieved 2009-05-24 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p111345_index.html

Pewinternet.org (2007).The Pew Internet & American Life Project studies the social impact of the internet, focusing on topics including health, teens, and broadband. Retrieved 16 march 2010. Available. http://www.pewinternet.org/Topics.aspx.

Robert Z. (2007). Adolescent Online Social Communication and Behaviour. Utah: University of Utah press