Excessive Internet Use by Children

This is an excerpt of an essay I wrote about excessive internet use by children and teens for SOC 203 (current social problems) in Fall 2014.

The article, “Online safety: is the internet really a dangerous, lawless jungle for children?” discusses the hazards of child-internet use. The author of this text welcomes the “efforts to tackle difficult and complex issues such as cyber bullying, sexting, and online addictions” (Balkam, 2014).  Stephen Balkam deems the online world is an unsafe place for kids and believes in a “tougher legislation to make the Internet a safer environment for young people” (Balkam, 2014).  The author also includes a stance on the opposition, quoting the co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, Dr. Justin Patchin, who stated, “The internet is no more a ‘lawless jungle’ than the schoolyard, the shopping mall, or the living room. There is no evidence that I am aware of that the risk of physical (or even emotional or psychological) harm is higher among children who regularly use the Internet compared to those who don’t” (Balkam, 2014).  

This article follows the Social Problems Process:
Claimsmaking: Balkam directs the readers attention to the growing problem of children exploring a “lawless jungle” also known as the internet.  Through this claimsmaking, Balkam expects to terminate childhood bullying, sexting, and create an “online world safer for kids and their families” (Balkam, 2014).

Media Coverage: Though this article was published two weeks ago, the term “lawless jungle” has now made it’s way into many news articles including Huffington Post, Independent, and many Daily News.

Public Reaction: Since most of the media coverage has been featured on something as versatile as the web, the audience can not only read the media coverage, but also comment on the articles with their own interpretations and opinions.  

Policymaking: Balkam, heading the international non-profit Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), cautions “against crafting laws based on some highly publicized cases and fear-inducing statements about lawlessness and jungles” (Balkam). Balkam continues to state “let’s have newspapers and NGOs create campaigns to raise awareness and to lobby for changes in the law. But let’s have those efforts rooted in solid research and reasoned thinking and not throw around unsubstantiated statements and fear-based messaging.”  Balkam suggests that adults need to work in unision to “create enlightened public policy and evidence-based educational efforts.” He says that doing this will help address both online and offline bullying problems.

Social Problems Work: Balkam suggests that working with social media sites and app developers can “create a culture of responsibility online.” Other than Balkam/FOSI, no agencies have implemented new policies or requested further changes in how the world handles children exploring the online world.

Policy Outcomes: Since no policies have been put into place, there have not been any policy outcomes.