In a networked society, we have to be careful where we leave our digital footprints. Unlike the physical world, our tracks are permanent. A news article posted to the Globe and Mail this week by Anne Flaherty highlights some of the concerns that parents are having in the Digital Age when it comes to monitoring the Internet usage of their offspring. With a variety of social media apps at our disposal, it appears that some parents fear that they are not keeping up with changing technologies and therefore are losing sight of their children’s digital activity. One of the main concerns presented in this article is the diffusion and displacement of a child’s online activity. This anxiety may derive from a “problem chain” mentality whereby someone believes that harm in one community can lead to another. Although this may be a lived reality, it is equally possible that users are simply adapting to new and improved technologies. Without a doubt, social and technological changes can produce new opportunities for harm and exploitation. When it comes to vulnerable members of society, such as children, educators and legal guardians must be responsible for and conducive to reducing opportunities for harm. The article reveals that some parents have chosen to disable their home Wi-Fi connections after 9 p.m. meanwhile others lean towards education and having a “technology talk” with their sons and daughters. In any case, it is certain that modern technologies have certainly posed a number of challenges in society. Despite this, technology and social media are becoming progressively entrenched in every day life. As a result, conversations in lawful and basic Internet usage need to take place. In the meantime, Internauts should take the opportunity to weigh the cost and benefits of voluntarily engaging in open-net communication. Society should also be mindful that the onus of Internet usage is placed on the individual; however, young members of our society must be protected, as the ramifications of online disclosure can be harmful to one’s future. Citizens of the Internet should not be left with a binary choice that leads us to either “opting-in” and “opting-out” of social media and the Internet more generally. Instead, all users of the Internet must find a balance between retaining their individual privacy and freely communicating online.
What are your thoughts? How should parents protect the online activity of children and keep up with changing technology? How can society reduce opportunities for online exploitation?
Works Cited
Flaherty, Anne. (March 18, 2013). “Parents losing race to monitor kids’ social media activity: report.” The Globe And Mail, Technology.
