Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

THE EFFECTS OF INTERNET CENSORSHIP TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for
The Contemporary World

Submitted By:

SAHAGUN, CELINE ERICA A.

SAMSAMAN, JENNAREN O.
SANTOS, KRISTINE GRACE F.
SARMIENTO, BRYSON M.
SERRANO, CHARLIE V.

GROUP 9
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Submitted To:
MRS. LEONORA ORTIGUERO SIGNEY

October 2, 2018
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

Introduction

Internet provides easy and "anonymous" access to pornographic materials, many

institutions (such as schools, colleges, companies, and libraries) have implemented. Internet filters.

Filtering software acts as an intermediary between the Web browser and the Internet, blocking

access to materials deemed inappropriate or objectionable for a given audience.

The internet was monitored by the Internet community rather than by governments or

official organizations. The goal was to avoid government interference to promote freedom of

speech and lack of prejudice. Though these initial sentiments were admirable in theory,

governments and other bodies have been increasingly monitoring the Internet after concluding that

self-monitoring was no longer adequate to solve emerging issues. Several examples of these issues

included the increase of criminal activity on the Internet, the evolution of the Internet as a social

phenomenon, the diversity of Internet users, and the advent of various political doctrines on the

Internet.

There are several ways to overcome Internet Censorship. From using VPN to browser,

there are many ways to unblock websites. There are pros and cons of using different methods to

unblock Internet Censorship in your region.

The motivations for censorship range from well-intentioned desires to protect children

from unsuitable content to authoritarian attempts to control a nation's access to information. No

matter what the censors' reasons are, the end result is the same: They block access to the Web

pages they identify as undesirable.

 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

Research Problem/Objective

The researchers’ objective is to know the effects of internet censorship to high school

students.

This study determines the effects of internet censorship to high school students. This study

seeks to answer the following questions:

• What are the effects of internet censorship to high school students?

• To what extent is internet censorship capable of affecting the student?

• To what extent of accessibility of internet does a regular person has?

Literature Review

According to Pepper (2017), in technological age, internet access is sort of forever a

necessity to finish school assignments, projects, etc. because trips to the library for research are

obsolete. The galvanic internet censorship put in place by school officials constructs a digital

divide for its students. School administrations nationwide exert control over web access for

students. Despite some edges, blocking the web has largely unfavorable effects and undermines

learning in class.

The common reason for school internet restriction is to disallow the students from harmful

websites; but internet deterrence at school is essentially ineffective at keeping students aloof from

harmful websites and ultimately simply inhibits students from accessing educational content. One

of the blocked sites in school is YouTube. YouTube helps the students to know the teachings

they're struggling with through videos. Although YouTube contains content that might lead a

student astray from the task at hand, the site also has countless educational tutorials. The web

restrictions for school’s Wi-Fi, limit the student’s skills to learn ideas.

Fuglei (2014) said that Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) of 2000 is implemented

to produce filtering tips for schools and libraries to assist on defending students from accessing

obscene content or content that would be harmful to minors in other ways. CIPA offers valuable
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

protections to students, for sure, however implementing net filtering at the school and district level

can even cause access problems within the classroom. School districts aren't lawfully needed to

implement these rules however, university that meet CIPA necessities qualify for discounts on

their net and computer network services. To be CIPA compliant, colleges should implement

policies that cover minors from accessing the internet; the safety and security of student electronic

communications (including email and chat space access); unauthorized access; unauthorized

revelation of private information; access to harmful materials.

KQED Mindshift reports that one administrative district in Nebraska came under fire for

its net filtering when students were unable to access National Geographic or use search engines to

analysis government systems in Asian nation, China. In other schools, counselors have the problem

accessing materials on suicide or alternative emotional and mental state topics due to search filters.

Whereas districts usually have net filtering monitored by their IT department, several of those staff

aren't educators and therefore might be unfamiliar the analysis necessities that may need filter

overrides. This net censorship evades the scholars from harmful sites but, on the other hand, it

limits their data to understand and see the problems in the world.

According to Whittaker (2008), internet censorship is the management or suppression of

the publication or accessing of knowledge on the web. On 1996 saw the passing of the

Communications Decency Act in United States, heavily restricted the access to online speech

available to be viewed by a minor. However free speech activists managed to get rid the act,

leaving only the bare bones in court. This act is supported by the Children's Internet Protection Act

whose aim is to discourage online child groomers by requiring that universities and libraries install

a planned net filter - included in this is access to social networking sites.

Internet censorship has a colossal impact on students' research and knowledge. We are all

aware that the majority of the time, one of the first ports of call for research is the good old web.

Such strict censorship dramatically reduces the number of and convenience of online resources

offered to teachers, students, etc. This may also mean they are dealing with outdated material

which only darkens the academic world they live in. In short, the internet is a future gateway for a
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

bigger understanding of the world we all inhabit, and such censorship is restricting the

development of the Internet into a worldwide pot of information available to all.

According to Atkinson-Shorey, N.D. an IT consultant and former librarian said,

“There’s not a right or wrong; it’s a lot about community values and it’s a tough thing because the

Internet can be a dangerous place. It is a place where a lot of helpful and harmful information is

scattered everywhere waiting to be seen. Internet censorship can help filter those both. One

common censored site in school is YouTube. Where students can watch any videos that they search

in the platform, and in result they can just use it to watch some videos that interest them rather

than learning the topic. But there are other creators in the platform that can also help students on

their subjects, where they post a video about tips, context and ideas about it. This only shows that

the internet censorship sure does help students focus on their goals but can also limit their choices

where to get quality information.

Censorships in schools usually exist in the form of the removal or manipulation of materials

or learning process. One common type of this censorship in schools are things that would be

inappropriate for students whether it’s because of their age or religion and more factors that can

affect the students. The same goes when browsing the internet, moderators control what the user

can access. Information that can be searched will be selected, narrowing down the options and

knowledge the user can get. Everyone knows that the internet has hundred or thousand places

where the user can get the appropriate amount of information for a certain topic, but with the

internet censorship in effect the students can only few sides of the paper. All of these can affect

the beliefs, experience and worldview of the student. And when they are exposed to other opinions

they have the risk of ignoring it or getting hostile on those ideas. And one worse part is getting the

idea from the wrong person, with this censorship students will have to believe what they can access

rather than what they will get on credible sources. And with that comes the word ‘bias’ that

according to the Oxford Dictionary means “A disproportionate weight in favor of or against one

thing, person or group compared with another, usually in a way that is unfair to the other”. Which
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

means that the students will have more bias on those that he/she knows that those around them

(Wagner, 2010).

Findings and Arguments

This research was conducted for the purpose of determining the Effects of Internet

Censorship to High School Students. The descriptive method of research was utilized for gathering

the data. Internet has made the world a smaller place. Censoring content on the Internet removes

the ubiquity that it has introduced. There really isn’t anything you can’t find on the World Wide

Web. That term World Wide Web is obsolete now that some countries have decided to censor or

block out the internet completely. When internet censorship comes into play it makes an impact

on how users especially students can have a web experience. Students have limited educational

resources. As pointed out by Wagner, M. (2010) of Computer World, while filters get implemented

with the best of intentions, they are not a cure-all to hiding inappropriate content. For instance, in

schools with a filter designed to keep out inappropriate content may not be able to access content

about the book "Moby Dick.” Further, if a person is trying to find information on a more

controversial topic -- such as sexuality or drug use -- to educate him, he may not be able to access

the resources he needs to be as self-educated as possible. Internet restrictions can often result in

students not having access to information that can help in the development of their knowledge and

skills whether to help build their careers, pursue their business ambitions, or educate themselves

on global issues. Although fake information can be restricted through internet censorship, so can

real information. According to the World Economic Forum (2016), 27% of all internet users live

in a country where someone has been arrested for content that they have shared, published, or

simply liked on Facebook. The advantage of allowing internet censorship is that content which is

violent, obscene, or dangerous can be immediately blocked. This protects students from

inadvertently viewing content that could be scary or harmful to them, such as the murder and

decapitation videos which have made their way to sites like Facebook and Twitter in recent years.

According to Fuglei, M. (2014), with technology in the classroom on the rise, students’ exposure
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

to the internet is increasing dramatically. Technology in the classroom is definitely an effective

learning tool, but it comes with lots of precautions. That’s the entire premise of the Children’s

Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Since 2000, this act has provided filtering guidelines for schools

and libraries to help protect students from accessing obscene content or content that could be

harmful to minors in other ways. CIPA offers valuable protections to students, for sure, but

implementing internet filtering at the school and district level can also lead to access issues in the

classroom. According to Whittaker, Z. (2008), censors have a massive impact on students' research

and knowledge, especially in the countries on the "Enemy" list the world over. We are all aware

that most of the time, one of the first ports of call for research is the good old web. Such strict

censorship dramatically reduces the amount of and availability of online resources available to

academics, particularly history, social policy and political study students. This may also mean they

are dealing with outdated material which only darkens the academic world they live in. The

Internet is a future gateway to a greater understanding of the world we all inhabit, and such

censorship is restricting the development of the internet into a worldwide pot of information

available to all.

Conclusion

With technology in the classroom on the rise, students’ exposure to the internet is increasing

dramatically. Technology in the classroom is an effective learning tool, but it comes with lots of

precautions.

That’s the entire premise of the Student’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Since 2000, this act

has provided filtering guidelines for schools and libraries to help protect students from accessing

obscene content or content that could be harmful to minors in other ways. CIPA offers valuable

protections to students, for sure, but implementing internet filtering at the school and district level

can also lead to access issues in the classroom.

 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

Internet censorship is when what you view on the internet is suppressed by regulators. I was

inspired to ask myself if the internet should be censored for young people. The immediate response

was, “Yes! It will keep the children safe!” Parents cannot always be there to watch what their

children are viewing online, and even on safe sites, there are links floating around that can lead to

inappropriate and immoral websites. One click, and the child is vulnerable.

There is so much dangerous content on the internet, such as racism, sexism and pornography,

to name just a few risky search results; a child should not be exposed to these things. However,

after thinking twice, I realized it is unreasonable to censor the internet. Will kids benefit from this?

I believe it would be a violation of free speech. The internet is a platform where people can share

their lives—the good and the bad—and inappropriate content will always be there, no matter what.

To teach children about the harms and implications of the internet, and to make them

understand its consequences, would be a better idea. Education, after all is the most powerful tool

in the world.

Besides, it is not only on the internet where children come across dangerous subjects. Will we

ban magazines, books, libraries and museums as well? After all, a child can also learn about the

dark side of humanity from those sources too.

Therefore, I doubt internet censorship will help. The internet is meant, by design, to be

accessible by all around the globe. On it, people can express their feelings and share their ideology.

By suppressing our right to share ideas, we are restricting people from their deserved freedom of

speech.

While there are dangerous aspects of the internet, it is still filled with a wealth of knowledge.

For these reasons, its positives outweigh the negatives. Censorship could end up blocking

educational material that just happens to be controversial. It could also block news that is

inconvenient to certain parties of power.

The 21st century should be about educating everyone, and if young people are taught to make

the right choices online, parents do not need to worry. Prevention is better than cure.
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Engineering
Anonas, Sta Mesa, Manila

References

Wagner, M. (2010). How Internet censorship harms schools. Retrieved from:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.computerworld.com/article/2468073/endpoint-

security/how-internet-censorship-harms-schools.amp.html

Pepper, R. (2017). Impairs a Students’ Ability to Learn. Retrieved from:

https://crimsonnews.org/4811/opinion/school-internet-censorship-impairs-a-students-

ability-to-learn/

Fuglei, M. (2014). How Internet Filtering Affects Education. Retrieved from: https://education.cu-

portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/how-internet-filtering-affects-education/

Whittaker, Z. (2008). Students and the Internet censorship problem. Retrieved from:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/students-and-the-internet-censorship-problem/

Baron, K. (2014). What's the Impact of Overzealous Internet Filtering in Schools? Retrieved from:

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/36489/whats-the-impact-of-overzealous-internet-

filtering-in-schools