a child using the Web continually exposes them to various risks
a child using the Web continually exposes them to various risks. One risk of children using the internet is that there are cyber predators out there. Sexual and other predators can stalk kids on the internet, taking advantage of children’s innocence, abusing their trust, and, perhaps, ultimately, luring them into dangerous personal encounters. These predators lurk on social media and game sites that appeal to children. There, they can exploit not only children’s innocence but also their gift of imagination. They might say things like “Let’s play pretend, “which is a common and healthy part of online gaming and interaction, but predators can use it as a hook to pull children in (Kaspersky, 2020).
Another risk that can affect a child’s internet experience is posting private content such as their address and educational institution on social media profiles. According to Kaspersky (2020), children do not understand social boundaries, so they may mistakenly post the wrong information on their social media profiles. A random person could see that and exploit their information. In addition to the exploitation of personal information, children are easily lured into giving credit card information. If a child can access the credit card information of their parents, they may easily be tricked into giving it to fraudsters who use the information for financial crime. Also, children can rack up unnecessary credit card charges as they access information online or as they play video games.
The third risk of children using the internet is that it contains pornographic and other inappropriate content that can steal the innocence and morality of them. A broader perspective is supported by Steven Chen (2017), who argues that you can find this type of content on sites that children like to go on, and this can traumatise them and damage their state of mind. Young children do not understand the mechanics of sex, and experiencing it is not good for them in different ways. It is inevitable that children may wander into pornographic sites, but parents with basic digital skills can censor the content of children’s gadgets. If children are regularly exposed to pornographic content at a young age, it can shape harmful sexual practices that may affect them in the future (Williams, 2019).