The Child, the Parent, or the Internet?

[danty]

I found this topic recently on a little link hop when looking for GTA IV hacks. It has been reqritten so that it looks fuller and easier to understand.

Lately, the news is filled with the problems that the internet is causing for young people under the age of 16 - parents and news reporters alike are blaming the evolution of the internet for minors getting themselves into difficult situations - for example, a 13 year old girl signs up to Myspace and lies about her age. She meets a 19 year old on there and they meet up. The Internet takes the blame.
How about the 6 girls attacking one girl and that girls parents blaming the Internet?

This topic is open for debate on who you think is to blame - the child, the parents, the Internet, or the Government?

[Ryan]

I personally feel that anonymity is one of the major advantages to the use of the internet; it is a medium for self-help or group help that was previously unavailable outside niche methods such as the Samaritans. Unfortunately there is always going to be abuse, and while there are children who do not understand the dangers of using the internet, I believe them to be few and far between. Obviously this argument is difficult to substantiate because a study into such a worldwide issue would be unfeasible. Therefore, from this paragraph you can assume that the blame does not lie on the Internet as an entity - at all.

The government - the government does not have a responsibility to monitor what citizens do; it's unfortunate that some have come to believe that. The government as a whole have a job to decision make, legislate and carry out legislation, and nothing more. It is not the job of the government to provide safety to children online..unless the issue directly affects already present legislation. To legislate for the internet again, is unfeasible. The internet is such a monolithic technological advancement, that the government would never be able to get on top of things.

To blame parents, again is a favourite thing of society today. It is not the responsibility of the parent to ensure children are safe at every moment. Part of growing up is being exposed to danger, and the internet is just a new way to develop those boundaries. When I was younger, such experimentation might have been with cycling two miles away from home, or climbing trees that shouldn't be climbed. The internet has replaced that, which I believe is acceptable. Sure, parents should monitor children internet usage, but to control it is unnecessary and will just create division.

That ultimately leaves me with only one conclusion. I believe that in this scenario, and the tens of thousands like it, the blame lies with the child. The irresponsibility and immaturity shown in these cases show that the child has not the intelligence, nor personal responsibility to survive alone. It is a part of natural development to stretch the boundaries of the allowed limits, for example, swearing in the home et cetera...but these children are grossly unfit for real life, and must stretch the boundaries to experience it. Unfortunately some stretch it too far. Some call this natural selection. It's a good thing.

[joshy!!!]

the answer is all
why is it the child's - well when your in school the teacher tells you what to do and what not to do there are lots of warning and internet help sites anyone should know what to do in those situations.

why is it the internet's fault- the inter net is not sticked enough people these say hack into your computer sites easy to hack into underage people in all different sites

why is it the parents fault- parents should keep a eye on there kids what they go onto sometimes its hard because of work but even sit down and talk with your kids about the internet what to be careful of and if something happens what to do

[Reuben]

I agree with Joshy, It's got to do with everything all of the above.

[theworldsucks]

i also kinda agree its all, but im inclined to say that mostly the parents tbh, i mean if ur lettin ur kid go on there, then watch they arent on stuff they arent suppose to be, and put parental controls up theres enough software that does that kind of things these days

[Welsh-Angel]

Children need to be aware that there are some sick weirdos out there, even on the internet. Parents are already aware i think but they should find out how to put parental control on the computer. As for the internet, it is forever changing, there will always sites you disagree with on there. When unappropriate sites are deleted in one place and a new one is bound to be made in another.

[whitefire]

the ones that are to blame would most likely be the websites themselves not the internet not the parents and not the person at fault for example if someone subscribes to say myspace or bebo and the website is asking for vital information say name date of birth and so on how on earth can you say that it's the childs or the parents but in fact it the website that displays vital information and like what the auther said six girls gang up and bully this poor individual because they can guess who he/she is from the info displayed meaning its not the internet itself and its neither the person in question nor the parents so let let me ask you this should the websites hide any form of vital information

[prince dee]

When you think about it, its mostly the Child because we can hardly expect the government to go: 'Oh, look betty lied about her age on myspace :/'. So its tough luck for the child for whatever **** they land themselves in.
But it is also the parents, they should be checking the childs online activity regularly, maybe checking the details on their childs bebo,myspace etc.
We can hardly blame the internet or the government, what really can they do. The internet was provided in hope that children would have more sense to do such silly things, and the government can hardly moniter every child in the world (If they even would bother).
So the bottom line is the Child and the parent are to blame, more so the child, who should have more sense.

[Welsh-Angel]

All of human life is to blame lol