The dark side of the internet
Exposing kids to the risk
THE CEO of Save the Children Fiji, Shairana Ali, blames internet use for Fiji being identified as a destination for child trafficking for sexual purposes (September 30, 2020).
She further stated that the children may be actively engaging in their exploitation through their personal networks.
This brings us to the irony where the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted schools and universities to move towards online mode, whereas the negative repercussions of internet usage are coming to fore.
The children are vulnerable to the online scams, obscene stuff, cyberbullying, violence videos, online predators and child pornography.
This is a severe threat as social media even disturbs the children’s sleep and concentration patterns.
Ms Ali commented “online safety Act did not contain any provisions criminalising grooming for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials or causing children to view sexual abuse or sexual activities” and suggested a need to carefully review the legislation to address potential loopholes and also Child Protection Policy.
These steps may provide better security to the children and improve the protection of children rights.
Until then, one needs to be aware of the possible threats of social media. Beginning from online predators try to connect to unknown children to gain a child or teen’s trust.
Initially, they are kind and later they try to get their personal information or even use sexually explicit conversation to create natural curiosity of a child towards the sex-based conversation.
They use obscene stuff to control child behaviour.
These predators may enter the chat rooms made on social media and try to befriend as if pretending of their age and taste. Setting up of fake profiles by predators expose the children to this risk.
Through social media platform, scams often happen when the personal information of children are taken by the scammers.
They try to get the information through children about their parent’s credit or debit card.
Some phishing sites approach children to fill their details for prize or contest, that also creates a risk for being robbed.
These sites target the young ones by emailing them that they have won cash price or expensive gifts and request for payment details for delivery. They even try to sell goods through online mode at giving away prices that attract the young ones to share their details.
Cyberbullying or cyberharassment through digital devices through the internet gives emotional and psychological distress to young ones. Cyberbullying can create a depression due to spreading rumours, lies or even embarrassing photos of victims on a social platform; it also includes sending threats or obscene messages.
Cyberbullying leaves a digital footprint, that is not easily erased. The victims of bullying sometimes go through anxiety, depress and lose confidence.
Cyberbullying may hurt in various forms like mentally, emotionally and physically.
Last year, UNICEF had shown concern of cyberbullying among young people in the island nations where it stated need support of all stakeholders (parents, teachers, community leaders and peers) to safeguard the young ones (Xinhua, 7/2/2019).
It is advisable to be good cybercitizens and criticise every such person who is trying to be a threat for others.
Young ones find it fascinating to date online, but it is difficult to know about the person if one has not met them personally. The promises made via web may not come true, so it is advisable not to trust everything blindly and take someone along with you if you are planning to meet the internet friend in person. Prevention is better than cure.
Children are vulnerable to the exposure of potential risk of accessing obscene content and visuals, vulgar language, usage of drugs, cigarettes and alcohols visuals; sexual images and even child pornography.
Children sometimes share their inappropriate personal images and videos on social media. These may be used by others for bullying or creating harm.
Another risk is of accidentally downloading the malware through digital gadgets, where the software asks permission from victims and steals away the personal information. Cybercriminals used this means to trick the children.
After identifying this risk, measures should be adopted to minimise this threat if it cannot be totally eliminated.
It becomes highly imperative that children access to the internet and social media need to put under surveillance or monitoring by the parents, and guardians.
Blocking obscene and inappropriate sites; reporting against cyberbullying; explaining to children the complexity of predator sites and scams; talking to children about unusually social media activities and their problems; parent becoming a friend of children to share their thoughts; giving time to the children; keeping an eye on their social media activities and their behaviour are an imperative measure to fight against this menace.
Internet with high speed and large data plans may be attractive, but it requires proper usage by children to achieve the optimum rational objective.
In a nutshell, the lawmakers will make the policies and imply them, but the ground supervision and monitoring need to come from parents or guardians.
Coming on the same platform, with all these stakeholders can save our children from these threats.
Our common agenda is the children’s wellbeing that needs to be achieved for protecting the right of every child.