In the modern times, the world has become a global village and people are connected more than ever before. Today, people depend on the internet to do almost everything. Individuals are using modern technology to communicate and to run businesses. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have exploded in the last few years (Watters, 2012).
Children and adolescents have also become exceedingly active on social networking sites to communicate with friends and hook up with different people all over the world. Undoubtedly, the internet is playing a significant role in everybody’s life, and children have not been left behind. Although, the internet has much to offer, there are certain risks involved. This paper will discuss the potential threats of social networking sites to children.
Criminal elements
Social networking sites can expose children to criminals (Roderic, 2006). Although Facebook and Twitter among other social networking sites are primarily designed for socialization, there are many users who are on these social sites for different reasons. There are many nice people on social networking sites, but those who have bad motives also do exist.
Children are exposed, and criminals are targeting the most vulnerable groups in the society (Roderic, 2006). Because children and adolescents post a lot of information about themselves, social networking sites, especially Facebook, Twitter, and My Space have become heaven for internet predators (Roderic, 2006).
Children are usually excited to share about their hobbies, friends, schools, their physical appearance, and their phone numbers among other exceptionally sensitive information. Such information mostly is read by criminals. When a child says that he will be at a certain place during a specific time, such criminals take advantage either to kidnap children or harass them.
Sexual content
Social networking sites can expose children and adolescents to content that is only meant for adults (Watters, 2012). It is now clear that social networks are just more than socializing. In recent times, adolescents, youths and adults have become active on the social networking sites.
Some people are using the social networking sites to advertise while others are doing illegal business on the same sites. However, some individuals usually post statuses that can cause emotional damage, especially when accessed by children. It is clear that, most social networking sites, especially Facebook provides facilities that allow users to post images and videos (Roderic, 2006).
According to Watters (2012) some people are extremely sensitive, but others have bad motives and they only post images that are destructive to children. In fact, research has shown that big percent of images found on most social networking sites are sexual graphics. Even if your child has not posted such images, there is high likelihood that he/ she has seen photos on Facebook that are pornographic in nature.
Apart from such images, there are many videos posted on the social networking sites containing graphics that have a potential to frighten and harm adolescents (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003). By using fake profiles, some individuals do post pictures that show them necked (nude), and this is extremely harmful to young children. Others use strong sexual language, which is also harmful to young children.
Social networking sites are only designed for adults and therefore, young children should be monitored when they are using such sites. One of the biggest problems is that, many users do not screen their contents to make sure that children cannot view or access them (Stephan, 2000). Parents should be extremely careful when it comes to social networking sites.
Identity thieves
It has been reported that criminals use fake profiles; they have fake identities, and some pretend to be children so that they can have children as their Facebook or Twitter friends (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003). Criminals are befriending children because they are pretending to be their own age.
Although these cases are rare, they are very serious because they come with many problems. According to most law enforcement agencies, faking profiles is one of the fastest growing problems, and parents should be very alert to prevent their children from being victims of such criminals. Criminals are targeting children because they want to kidnap them for sex (Watters, 2012).
Today, cases of adults using social networking sites and other chat rooms with attempts to befriend children and adolescents have been on the increase (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003). The biggest danger comes when these adults posing as children on the social sites want to meet their “new friends”.
It is, therefore, clear that social networking sites have become play grounds for fraudsters, kidnappers and other criminals whose aim is to find and prey on most vulnerable targets (children) (Roderic, 2006). Parents should learn various ways of protecting their children because they are relatively vulnerable on the internet.
Cyber bullying
Cyber bullying has increasingly become a serious problem in the recent times. Bullying is no longer restricted to the play grounds, but it can also happen on the internet too (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003). Social networking sites are the most targeted and children can be bullied even when they are at home or at school.
This form of bullying is not physical but it can be very damaging at times as it interferes with emotions of the young and adolescents. Statistics show that children are becoming victims of cyber bullying because they are constantly on social networking sites to socialize and on the internet to study (Stephan, 2000). Cyber bullying can happen through numerous means including email and social networking sites. It is necessary to address this problem because it can affect children’s lives in a negative way.
Emotional damage
Experts have warned that apart from vulgar language and watching pornographic videos and images, children can also undergo emotional damage because of using social networking sites. The most risk social sites include Facebook, Twitter, and Bebo, which can interfere with confidence of users (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003).
In such social networking cites, users have friends and some have many friends than others. Having many friends is a source of self esteem for children, but those who have few friends are less confident; they lack self-esteem (Roderic, 2006). This is because many children measure their happiness and success based on the number of friends.
Even if a child is not facing other problems (such as bullying) on a certain social networking site, one may not feel confident enough because he only has few friends. Moreover, children are spending more time on the internet and they are losing their empathy on actual friends (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003).
Experts have reported that since social networking sites were launched, many people have lost their real friends because they have no time to interact with each other. This is because most people are spending a lot of time glued to their computers. Some children have even forgotten about their interests and hobbies, which is pushing them away from their friends. This trend is a serious crisis because young children are losing emotional skills, needed to retain true friends.
Malware and virus
Another potential threat caused by use of social networking sites among children is the potential to harm their computers, phones, and PCs among other personal gadgets (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003). The internet is full of threats both for human and hardware. When children are on the social networking sites, they may accidentally expose their computers or phones to harmful malware such as virus among others.
Parents unlike children are extremely cautious when clicking on what to download from their computers. They are fully aware there exist hundreds of potential hazardous risks and are, therefore, likely to avoid them. On the other hand, children are most vulnerable because they are not likely to know which links are unsafe (Roderic, 2006).
On the internet, there are thousands of dangerous sites and social networking sites are not exception as they are the most targeted links. The risks that come with viruses are serious because some of them can cause hardware failures. Parents should monitor which links their children are visiting when they are on social networking sites to avoid such potential threats.
Recommendations
It is highly recommended that parents should monitor, supervise, and guide their children when using Facebook or Twitter among others. This is because, children are innocents, and they are unlikely to sense danger. Criminal are targeting children and adolescents on the social networking sites due to their vulnerability.
Parent should install software that restricts accessing of certain pages or links. In addition, parents should train their children about various problems related to social networking sites. They should also warn them about the numerous potential threats caused by such sites.
Apart from helping and encouraging children, parents should also work with law enforcement agencies to make sure that those who are responsible for bullying and posting harmful materials (such as pornographic images and videos) are punished severely. The government should also impose tough penalties on such criminals to help reduce such cases.
Risk Assessment
Conclusion
The internet is utilized by people to run businesses and to communicate all over the world. Because of its efficiency, it has been embraced globally. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and My Space are the most commonly used (Rittinghouse and Hanock, 2003).
These networking sites have potential threats to children, who have continued to use these sites to communicate and connect with friends. The reason why children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to being preyed upon by online criminals is because they are naive.
Cyber bullying, exposure to malware, identity thieves, emotional distress, and being exposed to content only fit for adults are among the few potential threats that are presented by social networking sites to children. To curb these problems, parents should take the responsibility of monitoring, supervising, and guiding their children. Furthermore, parents should work with the law enforcement agencies to ensure criminals are punished. By so doing, our children will be safe whenever they are using social networking sites.
Reference List
Rittinghouse, W., Hanock, B. (2003). Cyber security Operations Handbook. Missouri: Digital Press.
Roderic, B. (2006). Developments in the global law enforcement of cyber-crime, Policing. An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 29 (3): 408 – 433.
Stephan, G. (2000). The draft cyber crime convention: creating an international law enforcement standard. Info, 2 (6): 605 – 606.
Watters, P. (2012). Cyber Security: Concepts and Cases. Amsterdam: British Scientific Publishing.