Online Risks Faced By Children

Exposure to Inappropriate Material Due to the free availability of information on the Internet, a major risk that a child may be exposed to is inappropriate material, sexual, hateful, or violent in nature, or encourages activities that are dangerous or illegal.

Gambling and Other unsuitable behaviour Online gambling sites are flooding the Internet. It is unsuitable for children to view such sites. Most online gambling sites require a person to use a credit card. This poses a potential threat to the financial well being of the family as well.

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Dangers Some web sites and newsgroups promote the use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol. Some websites even teach how to make bombs or download “Virus Development Kits”.

Physical Harm Paedophiles seeking children as targets have used E-mail and chat rooms to gain a child’s confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting. Once the child’s confidence has been won and a meeting arranged, the child is in great danger of physical harm and permanent psychological scarring.

Persecuting Messages A child might encounter E-mail or chat/bulletin board messages that are harassing, demeaning, or belligerent. Information sent to your child could also have a psychological impact on your child.

Legal and Financial Problems There is also the risk that a child could do something that has negative legal or financial consequences such as giving out a parent’s credit card number or committing a cyber crime. Legal issues aside, children should be taught good "netiquette" which means to avoid being rude or inconsiderate while online.

Intrusion of Privacy A child’s privacy is vital but is most vulnerable on the Internet. No one has a right to a child’s personal information without due authorization from its guardians. Such information includes name, age, name of the school and details about the child’s family. Disclosing such information on the Internet may expose the child to substantial threats.

Wasting a Child’s Potential By being online for unlimited number of hours, a child ends up wasting a lot of valuable constructive time that may have been utilised for creative purposes. A child’s development may suffer a great deal because of this. Source : http://www.asianlaws.org/fact/ebook.pdf

Print Page