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Marlene Martinez
Professor McCallum
CSCI 101
31 October 2016
Keeping Our Children Safe
Technology has flourished since its prime during the use of stone tools and hieroglyphics.
In the twenty-first century, there are computers that allow people to accomplish almost every
thing anyone could possibly ever think of and technology is still rapidly advancing. Millennials
are the generation that has been raised to greatly depend on the resources that technology has to
offer and it is inevitable that the future generations will rely on and be even more technological
savvy than the previous generations. Therefore, it is essential to create programs and implement
restrictions so the safety and well being of children will be ensured, as they are constantly
dependent on this virtual reality. Online threats are always present even when anyone least
expects it, especially children.
The Internet is and endless machine of education. With the right search tools and
capabilities, anything can be discovered. Children have wandering minds and as they grow and
interact with family and the society, they are shaping their beliefs based on things their parents
instill in them, as well as taking note from their peers actions (Facer). A childs innocence is
perhaps the most precious thing known to man but eventually, it must come to and end in order
for them to become great contributors to the society. It is important for parents to vigilantly
monitor the online activity of their children because the content on the Internet is openly
available to any and everyone and its quite easy to obtain. Childrens searching and browsing
about videos on pornography and violence are likely the greatest concern of parent who have

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teens and pre-teens in the twenty-first century (Facer). Upon searching these things, it becomes a
chain reaction to share it with their peers and it just keeps spreading. By not being precautious
and monitoring children, the values and morals that parents have worked so hard to instill in their
children can easily be disintegrated within a matter of one click. In consequence, the distribution
of the information from child to child has the potential to cause much more serious problems
involving upset parents (Chng).
According to Weeden, Cook, and McVey (2013), social media is likely the driving force
of the current generation because it is the primary source in which people communicate, obtain
information, or simply share things with others and children begin to join social media websites
as young as the age of nine. At this age, there is no way that a child could have the mental
capacity to understand the many threats that being on social media can propose. Children are
vulnerable to many things, especially while their innocence is thriving. However, if a child is
wise enough to understand the reasoning and concept for lying about their age and various other
things, they are old enough to bear the consequences to follow. Children and adults misrepresent
their ages because they are underage and want to perceive themselves as something they are not
(Weeden, Cook, and McVey). Sometimes its a front for their peers, but most times, its perverse
adults on the prowl for their next victim.
For pedophiles and rapists, children on the Internet are the easiest target to accomplish
their repulsive behaviors (Livingstone). Its sickening, but they have no remorse. Although it is
wrong to misrepresent oneself, children are vulnerable because they are not expecting to become
victims of these horrendous crimes (Livingstone). As parents, it is important talk to children and
implement rules and guideless to frighten them, in a sense. One cannot change the twisted mind
of adults who target children, but one can ensure that their child never falls victim to any of it.

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Cyber bulling is rising epidemic among the young generations community (Chng et al.).
It seems as though children who engage in this method of bullying do it in hopes of not being
caught or simply being too coward to reveal themselves to their victim or victims in person.
Cyber bullying has lead to the thoughts and actual committing of suicide more than traditional
bullying (Chng et al.). Having a strong and positive family capital can minimize this issue
because it will likely never disappear. According to Blau (2011), family capital is the greatest
driving force in determining the decisions children will make for the remainder of their lives, it is
what they will instill in their children and it will continue. Teaching children compassion,
understanding, and how to stand up for those being bullied shall most definitely prove to have a
positive effect on the way cyber bulling is perceived.
There are many programs and applications that have been created to monitor and limit the
content that a given user on a computer or smartphone can have access to (Blau). These
applications and programs have the ability to block particular websites/content, keep detailed
history of everything that has been browsed, set time limits for Internet use, and even notify the
parent of any discrepancies during the time a child has spent online (Blau). Children will likely
be opposed to these such applications and programs, but as a parent it is essential to stand firm
and enforce the rules. As they grow older, children will understand why these precautions were
taken and most likely be thankful for the great concern their parents addressed and controlled.
The Internet is an exceptional place to further education and explore the world. However,
when the lives of children, whom are the future of this world, is in danger, precautions must be
taken in order to ensure their safety. Keeping children from the Internet is impossible because the
current generation and generations to come will eventually be fully dependent on the Internet and
everything it has to offer. While children are evolving with the technology around them, it is just

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as important for the parents and adults to evolve as well. They should familiarize themselves
with the communication that is used online such as abbreviations, emoticons, and the latest social
media sites. By being vigilant of the actions of children online, it is much more likely that
children and parents all over the world can have great confidence in everything the Internet has
to offer without being afraid of any potential threats.

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Works Cited
Blau, Ina. "Application Use, Online Relationship Types, Self-Disclosure, And Internet Abuse
Among Children And Youth: Implications For Education And Internet Safety Programs."
Journal Of Educational Computing Research 45.1 (2011): 95-116. ERIC. Web. 29 Oct.
2016.
Chng, Grace S., et al. "Parental Mediation And Cyberbullying -- A Longitudinal Study." Studies
In Health Technology & Informatics 199.(2014): 98-102. CINAHL Complete. Web. 29
Oct. 2016.
Facer, Keri. "After The Moral Panic? Reframing The Debate About Child Safety Online."
Discourse: Studies In The Cultural Politics Of Education 33.3 (2012): 397-413.
Professional Development Collection. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.
Livingstone, Sonia. "Online Risk, Harm And Vulnerability: Reflections On The Evidence Base
For Child Internet Safety Policy." Zer: Revista De Estudios De Comunicacion 18.35
(2013): 13-28. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.
Weeden, Shalynn, Bethany Cooke, and Michael McVey. "Underage Children And Social
Networking." Journal Of Research On Technology In Education 45.3 (2013): 249.
MasterFILE Premier. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.