Cyberitas

Every time you sign up for something online, you’ll get asked a few standard questions. Name? Password? Age?

I remember back when I was setting up my first email account, I was encouraged to fudge my date of birth. COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) was instated in 1998, with the good intentions of Congress trying to shield our nation’s youth. The act requires sites to obtain parental consent before they can utilize information of children under 13. It makes sense, of course, for lawmakers to be legitimately concerned about marketers obtaining an innocent child’s data or predators finding personal information from unsuspecting juveniles. However, to cope with the conundrum surrounding this law, many websites bar children under thirteen, notably Facebook. Recent research shows that an increasing number of parents are encouraging children to lie about their age to gain access to websites for social networking and email. Because of the instrumental role of these web-based resources in one’s day-to-day life, it is totally understandable for parents to want children to gain early access to these sites.

If you’re curious to see the details of the research, clickhttp://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3850/3075.

There was a time when I, being a complacent adolescent, wondered why such laws were necessary. After all, didn’t only “dumb” people get duped online? Although anyone can be a victim to cyberbullying, younger web users are particularly susceptible.

The newsworthy story surrounding MySpace and Megan Meier’s suicide is a clear example of the horrible consequences of internet usage by bad people. One of Meier’s neighbors, Lori Drew, created a MySpace account of a teenage boy and began online correspondence with Megan via MySpace. After gaining her trust, “Josh” began sending her a series of insulting and disparaging messages. Meier’s suicide was a brutal wake-up call for lawmakers and Netizens alike. Authorities attempted to bring Lori Drew to justice, using a law against hacking (since Drew violated the MySpace terms of service) to unsuccessfully prosecute her. Legislators across the country, especially in Missouri, attempted to create legislation to prevent cyberbullying. However, how much can authorities really control cyberbullying, both logistically and legally? One cyberlaw expert proposed a plan that requires that log files be kept to assist law enforcement, a take-down notice procedure (much like the DMCA’s protocol for copyright infringement), and the removal of immunity for service providers when young people are threatened by harmful speech. Unfortunately, this raises even more questions regarding what “child safety” really entails and how much the law can really protect against bullying. The key solution to cyberbullying may actually not lie in legislation or virtual roadblocks, but rather in education.  Anti-bullying programs through schools may better prepare future Internet users on proper “netiquette” and foster a more compassionate online community.

Wading through the murkiness of the Web may seem like trekking through a jungle. It is understandable that children to easily become ensnared by the Web, and it is understandable for lawmakers to want to look after our children. However, even with the present restrictions, young Netizens are still very vulnerable. The best way, in my opinion, is to build an online community for yourself that will keep everything in perspective. Make sure to surround yourself with positive friends online, and if people are making threatening or offensive remarks, defriend them, block them, and/or report them. Of course, the old adage is true: don’t talk to strangers! The Internet is truly a great tool for connecting with other, but keep in mind that for all its benefits it does have a darker side.