If a denizen of the early twentieth century could be called back from his sleep and brought to the modern times, he will be astonished to see the various advancements made by science in the field of telecommunications. In educational institutions he will be open-mouthed looking at the students browsing the World Wide Web and downloading information.
In modern households, friends and relatives located hundreds of miles apart, chatting, voice as well as text, and exchanging e-mails to one another through computer networks. In offices and other institutions, he will be shocked at the high speed transfer of data files through electronic mail, and the most recent are the concepts of internet online games, movie downloading, etc.
This is only an intimate look at the phenomenon called Information Technology and all the services enumerated are in fact different applications of information technology. The amalgamation of telecommunication and computer technologies has created what is called information and communication technology (ICT). Internet is considered as a strong outcome of this amalgamation.
Internet, commonly defined as a "Network of Networks," a co-operative global web of computer networks of all shapes and sizes ranging from huge research institutions' mainframes to modest home personal computers, creating spaces that exist only electronically. These virtual spaces, accessible by multiple users via internet through variety of technologies is called cyberspace.
It has the ability to remove distances between the people and allow them to interact in a virtual environment. In short, cyberspace can also be termed as a branch of virtual reality which is aimed to deliver an immersive, computer generated environments.
With the development of Information and Communication Technologies, the number of internet users is growing rapidly each year. Computers have brought untold benefits to children around the world, with the number of connected households increasing each year. By the end of 2008, there were over 1.5 billion people online, up from under 200 million at the beginning of 1998. These include users from all age groups, with a substantial share of young people.
Youths are one of the fastest growing Internet populations. Undoubtedly, cyberspace provides a great opportunity to children and young adults for accessing endless amount of information and knowledge. Young people are exploring museums, libraries, and universities. Internet improves child's reading skills by providing interesting materials to read.
As children use the Internet to connect and exchange e-mails with people around the world, they can learn about other cultures and traditions. Taking advantage of the tremendous educational opportunities available in cyberspace, nearly 30 million children and youth go online each year to research homework assignments and to explore the world they live in. Youth also use the Internet for recreational use, like playing games and meeting and making friends.
However, there are also threats and vulnerabilities associated with venturing into cyberspace, which has raised new and disturbing issues, especially where children are concerned. Some of these risks are pornography, violence, online gaming and addiction, online fraud, cyber-bullying, racism, etc.
According to a survey carried out by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations specialised agency for Telecommunications: Around 90% of teens and young adults use the Internet. Over 60% of children and teenagers talk in chat rooms on a daily basis. 3 in 4 children online are willing to share personal information about themselves and their family in exchange for goods and services. 1 in 5 children will be targeted by a predator or paedophile each year.
While 30% of teenage girls say they have been sexually harassed in a chat room, only 7% tell their parents, for fear their online access will be limited. Here the question arises that how much parents know about the online activities of their children and their knowledge about the availability of parental control measures to save their children from the online threats.
How many parents really know whether their child is actually working on his/her school project, or is merely chatting/playing games online at the middle of the night or early hours of the morning? Unfortunately, there is a disconcerting gap between what parents think and what children know. While 92% of parents say they have established rules for their children's online activity, 34% of children say their parents haven't. These patterns are consistent in other countries across the world (Source: ITU):
In France, 72% of children surf online alone, and while 85% of parents know about parental control software, only 30% have installed it. In Korea, 90% of homes connect to cheap, high-speed broadband, and up to 30% of Koreans under the age of 18 are at risk of Internet addiction, spending two hours a day or more online.
In the UK, 57% of 9-19 year olds say they've seen online pornography, 46% say they've given out information they shouldn't and 33% say they've been bullied online. In China, 44% of children said they had been approached online by strangers, and 41% had talked to an online stranger about sex, or something that made them feel uncomfortable.
We all are familiar that the children know more than their parents. Parents may not be as cyber savvy as the children are. Children are our future and we have to protect them from the vulnerabilities associated with venturing into cyberspace.
It is not only the responsibility of parents to advice children about the pros and cons of cyberspace, but teachers can also play a major roll in educating children about the hazards associated with cyberspace and subsequently guiding them about the precautionary measures. Few of the basic rules that parents should teach their children for online access are:
1. Do not give personal information or fill out questionnaires or any forms online. This personal information may include name, age, address, phone number, school, town, password, schedule, etc.
2. Do not exchange e-mails with strangers online. Take advice of your parents first so that they can check it out.
3. Avoid chat rooms.
4. Do not to tell any stranger online your whereabouts or your activities without the permission of your parents.
5. Do not send picture over the Internet or via regular mail to anyone you don't know.
6. Do not give out credit card information online without prior knowledge of your parents.
7. Do not respond to any email or chat conversation that makes you feel uncomfortable.
8. Always tell your parents about something you saw, intentionally or unintentionally, that is upsetting.
In addition, to the basic rules of online access, parent control tools are also available. Some of these include Magic Desktop (Operating System for Children-Protective Shell over Microsoft Windows), Live Mark Family, eScan Internet Security Suite, Norman Security, PC-cillin Internet Security, OpteNet Web Filter, Safe Eyes, CyberSieve, CyberPatrol, Norton Internet Security, etc.
In this regard, Ministry of Information Technology has embarked upon an online survey to get a feedback from children and youth about the threats and risks they have been exposed while surfing the cyberspace.
The survey form can be accessed at Ministry of IT's website http://www.moitt.gov.pk. We expect maximum participation in this survey to help the government to frame policy to ensure that our children are well protected against the risks and threats associated with access to cyberspace.
(writer is Director (International Coordination) Ministry of Information Technology)
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