Quotation: “These days, children are seen as likely to be exposed to (or, worse yet, exploited for) pornograpghy and sexual encounters and to encounter pervasive cyberbullying” (Bayum 49) (Moral Panic).
Comment: The Internet is an amazing source of technology that continues to evolve everyday. But online access for children also comes with risks, like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. When there is a lack of control over a child’s internet access it can lead to the child being exposed to inappropriate visuals. Exposure to graphic and disturbing things at a young age can lead to distress, anger, loss of control, social withdrawal. I see this effect in my own household. I am one of four children in my family. My older sister and I discuss regularly how crazy technology has evolved since we were children. We never had I phones or I pads at the age my two younger siblings got access to them. My youngest sister is 10 years old and she has had her own Ipad since the age of 5! Crazy! Although the form of technology allows her to interact with learning tools and tv shows, apps such as YouTube don’t always block inappropriate graphics or links. There have been incidents where she was using the internet for a school project and sexual ads appeared on the screen. Having a child ask you what they just saw (porn) aa=t a very young age is detrimental and scarring. Technology is a great resource and invention, however, it’s prominent in this day and age for children to have access to technology. Having a child be exposed to not age appropriate content such as porn is not only a sickening thought, but in my opinion, it is unacceptable.
Question: What age do you think it is acceptable to give a child access to the internet/technology?
