As someone who uses the internet to connect with teens via this site, I was not surpised by a new study confirming something I have long suspected: bullying by peers, not online predators, is by far the biggest threat facing teens online.
According to the New York Times:
"A task force created by 49 state attorneys general to look into the problem of sexual solicitation of children online has concluded that there really is not a significant problem. The findings ran counter to popular perceptions of online dangers as reinforced by depictions in the news media like NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series…The panel, the Internet Safety Technical Task Force, was charged with examining the extent of the threats children face on social networks like MySpace and Facebook, amid widespread fears that adults were using these popular Web sites to deceive and prey on children. But the report concluded that the problem of bullying among children, both online and offline, poses a far more serious challenge than the sexual solicitation of minors by adults."
That isn’t to say that there is no risk to teens from online predators. In fact, gay male teens may be at greater risk from predators than any other group. But like so many other risks, the real problems teens face are not always those that get the most attention.
As a result, parents who are afraid of cyberstalkers, not to mention the possibility of a teen coming across internet porn, will often go to great lengths to monitor a teen’s internet use.
Often, this is done using internet filters. A 2005 study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project of youth between 12 and 17 and their parents found that 54% of internet-connected families now use some sort of filter or monitoring software.
Many families view filters the same way they view movie ratings: as a reliable way to determine what is and is not appropriate for a young person to see. But internet filters are not the same as movie ratings. One of the regularly cited problems with filters is that they filter indiscriminately.
Some teens complain that filters make it tough to research reports for school. Searches for things like AIDS, breast cancer and even sexual orientation are often excluded when computer use is filtered. Others feel that in addition to the problems created by filter technology, filtering is a form of censorship.
So if filters aren't the answer, what is? Basically, family communication about these issues.
Of course, one of the things that is really hard to talk about with mom and dad is if you are getting bullied--especially if you are being harassed for being gay or lesbian and you aren't out to your folks. If this is the situation, please consider talking to another adult who you trust about what’s going on. Like every other aspect of your life, you deserve to use the Internet without fear.
