The Detrimental affects of The Internet

While online exploration opens a world of possibilities for children, expanding their horizons and exposing them to different cultures and ways of life, they can be exposed to many dangers as they hit the road exploring the information highway. If not used properly, the Internet may be severely damaging to the mental and physical health of children. There are many different hazards on the Internet.

Chatting on the Internet, which enables people as well as children to communicate, without revealing their true identity, is probably THE most dangerous area on the Internet. By engaging in chat, you open yourself up to all sorts of exploitation, and personal harm. Chatting brings people closer, which may not always be a good thing. Offensive dialogue and adult conversation during chat also influences children to use inappropriate language at home as well as in school. Because of the interactive nature of chatting, it is most likely activity online through which children may be harmed. Too much time online limits a child's well-rounded development by taking the place of friends, schoolwork, sports and other activities.

While on the Internet, it is probable that one will get carried away and lose track of time. Since being on the Internet is so time consuming, it is possible for anyone to get addicted. Any parent that values his child’s mental and physical well being should avoid this.

Easy access to sites promoting hatred, violence, drugs, cults, and other things not appropriate for children, is another great hazard of the Internet. Besides offering opportunities and access to unsavory activities, these sites also, quite often present misleading and inaccurate information.
In most cases, parents cannot censor what their children read online, what sites they visit, what kind of people they chat with, or the things they purchase. Accessing the Internet means accessing violent material, by means of reading and watching. Basically, a parent does not have control over what their child does. There are no restrictions on marketing products such as alcohol, tobacco, and arms to children- Marketing deceptively collects personal information from kids in order to sell products to them or their parents. Requests for personal information for contests and surveys that are used in unauthorized ways often may occur.

By submitting personal information in order to purchase goods or services through the Internet, we are exposing ourselves to hackers. Hackers illegally obtain private files stored on computers. The hardest part to deal with is the fact that you probably won't know it is happening. People assume they can't be hacked because "It just doesn't happen to me". This is wrong. People all around the globe do indeed get exploited, have their privacy invaded, and are victims of fraud.

In conclusion, No parental control tool is 100% reliable. Not only do tools inadvertently allow access to some inappropriate material and block access to some valuable information, but savvy children may be able to get around the controls. Accessing inappropriate material may be harmful to a child’s social, physical and mental state of health.