Rapid growth of Internet and increased dangers of child abuse

Dr. Mathu H. Liyanage

Sri Lanka with a population of 21,283,913 (2011) had 2,503,194 Internet and 1,235,080 Face book users at the end of December 2011. Surprisingly, these figures show how fast the modern technology and the Internet have taken root and spread throughout the country. The last decade had witnessed a rapid development and an astronomical increase in the use of electronic and computer based communication, and sharing of information through various media such as the Internet, mobile phones and emailing, besides the print and the television.

There are, of course, both advantages and disadvantages in any technological development intended to lift standards of life, but it is not so marked as in computer and the Internet usage. There is adequate evidence to show that the Internet is used as a medium to widen the scope and increase the dangers of maltreatment of children by exposing them to sexual, emotional and even physical abuse.

Pornographers and paedophiles, through their networks, make use of this medium to its utmost either to make money by making DVDs, videos and movies with explicit sexual acts or meet their twisted and uncontrolled sexual urges respectively. This technology has now spread globally into families, schools and work places, making it revolutionary by any standard.

False identities

The Internet provide easy access to undesirable, offensive, inappropriate materials and imagery to prepare innocent, unsuspecting children to become easy prey to schemers who try to seduce, sexually excite and drag them into their nets.

It is possible for the offenders to remain anonymous and make access relatively easy under cover of false identities, making the child believe that he/she is talking to another child, a trusted peer, a friend or a caring parent figure and arrange a place to meet in reality via chat rooms that have sprung like mushroom, and mobile phones now freely available.

It is not uncommon for sex offenders to target children who may have experienced maltreatment previously in one way or another; emotionally unstable children; kids who are crying out for love and care; those unable to have friendly relationships with their peers, friends or relatives; who have low self-esteem; those from broken or single-parent families; who have respect, regard and love for caring adults; and those who will give into rewards such as money, play materials and computer games.

Children do not normally disclose or report these solicitous conversations or actions to their parents, teachers and relatives through fear that they will lose those gifts and rewards offered to them under cover of pretended love and care.

Negative influences

There is, no doubt, that the use of the Internet has tremendously benefitted and supported children by facilitating social contacts, making them improve their numeracy and literacy skills to become better students. On the balance, the bad influences caused by the misuse of the Internet, nevertheless, outweigh the benefits they have gained.

Studies have also shown that extended usage of the Internet, though not particularly involved in pornography, may affect the health of those who sit in front of computers and laptops for long periods and that they are likely to develop depression and loneliness. This is precious time lost which could be profitably used for face-to-face contacts with friends, take part in sports and other social activities.

The ways and means of reducing or eliminating the negative influences impacting on children, who are at various stages of development, have been discussed over the years without arriving at any concrete and tangible strategy mainly due to the complexity of the issue and the influence exercised by foreign agencies and websites. But it is clear that there is the need for parents, teachers, communities and governments to act individually and/or collectively to deal with this insidious and menacing issue.

Parents should act as a firewall between the children and the Internet to protect kids from online predators. Children using the Internet through computers, laptops and smart phones are at more risk of being preyed on.

Parents need to understand the technology and have access to child’s passwords for social network sites, understand the controls for sites such as Face Book, go through child’s online friends and block friends they do not know, check whether the Internet is being used appropriately by their children and also prevent them sitting before the computers and laptops continuously for long hours.

The greatest risks are, however, in the social networks, webcam communities and children’s electronic games. They are directed at young kids and are big targets for predators. Website Stickam and popular online game sites - Moshi Monsters and RuneScape - are some of the sites where kids are most vulnerable. Webcam communities have now become the biggest issue since children, especially young girls, are using them to communicate with ‘friends’ across the globe.

Social network sites

Internet providers are offering packages where parents stop access at the server for certain sites. They can block pornography, violent sites, games and social network sites. They can also have timer packages which allow parents to control when their kids access certain sites such as the Face Book and YouTube.

Children should never send their personal details or photographs to 'friends' they do not know nor arrange to meet online 'friends' in person unless parents permit them to do so.

Teachers need to be alert and keep an eye on students to ensure that they use the computers and laptops exclusively for school work and take stern action if anyone offends to prevent a repetition of the offence.

Communities should also be watchful of spots where children gather after school hours. If the people notice anything suspicious, they should not hesitate to alert the Police.

More importantly, governments should tighten up the laws on websites, both local and foreign, so that offensive materials and imagery, which may fall into the category of pornography, do not flow through the Internet freely.

It may also be necessary for governments to explore the question of restricting Internet services or to establish service standards in order to reduce the presence of harmful material and behaviours online.

The dramatic growth of Internet usage is in itself a danger signal, warning the authorities to put safeguards now in place before the problem gets out of hand.