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Internet Not Really Dangerous For Kids After All

Posted by kdawson on from the nevermind dept.

Thomas M Hughes writes "We're all familiar with the claim that it's horribly dangerous to allow our children on to the Internet. It's long been believed that the moment a child logs on to the Internet, he will experience a flood of inappropriate sexual advances. Turns out this isn't an accurate representation of reality at all. A high-profile task force representing 49 state attorneys general was organized to find a solution to the problem of online sexual solicitation. But instead the panel has issued a report (due to be released tomorrow) claiming that 'Social networks are very much like real-world communities that are comprised mostly of good people who are there for the right reasons.' The report concluded that 'the problem of child-on-child bullying, both online and offline, poses a far more serious challenge than the sexual solicitation of minors by adults.' Turns out the danger to our children was all just media hype and parental anxiety." Those who have aggressively pushed the issue of the dangerous Internet, such as Connecticut's attorney general Richard Blumenthal, are less than happy with the report.

2 of 445 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid Report by pudge · · Score: 1, Troll

    The headline is completely false and misrepresents the article, too: the report did NOT conclude the Internet is not dangerous. It only concluded the danger is "overblown."

    Of course the Internet is dangerous for kids. That's a no-brainer. Only by shutting your eyes to the facts can you possibly come to another conclusion. There's plenty of examples of it.

    Is it an epidemic? Not according to most definitions of the word. Will most kids be solicited? No. Is there a real danger out there? Of course.

    Is the danger "overblown"? Ask the parents of the victims.

    Those of you claiming the danger doesn't exist are just as bad as the people saying there's a predator around every corner. There's a middle ground: realize the danger IS there, but take precautions and don't let it control your life.

  2. Re:some facts... by daveime · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yes, and no one was ever dumped before the internet.

    Any teen so insecure about themselves that they feel they need to top themselves after getting dumped, needs better parents, NOT a safer internet.