Unethical human activity is primarily responsible for a lack of privacy and safety on the Internet.

The internet is a widely-used tool with over 4.33 billion users across the globe, and over 57% of the world’s population has access to the internet. The internet provides endless opportunities, from social networking and entertainment, to educational purposes and learning new skills or hobbies. But the question lies, how safe are we on the internet?

Despite the internet providing infinite positive opportunities, there is a large proportion of internet users who use the platform in a dark and negative manner. From online bullying, unauthorised sharing of people’s personal data and information, scamming and the grooming of minors, the internet can be a dangerous place if not used with caution. So how safe is the internet? And what can we do to make it safer?

The internet is a boundless place offering infinite opportunities, but with those opportunities comes masses of dangers, especially for our children. Statistics show that around 57% of children aged 6 to 11 years old, and 71% of children aged 12 to 17 years old use the internet and are spending, on average, 18 hours per week online. With the frequent use of internet being so standard in this day and age, it is difficult for parents to keep up with their children’s online activity and ensure their safety.

While most parents believe their children are safe within the confinement of their home, online predators are becoming more aggressive and discovering more ways to communicate with young children in an unethical and inappropriate way.

With an estimated 5,000,000 predators online, child grooming is becoming disturbingly more common, and surveys have indicated that one in five minors will receive sexual content while online from a predator, however less than 25% of those report this to an adult.

From social networking sites to online games and chatrooms, predators are posing as young people in a bid to befriend minors and get to know them on an emotional level for personal gain. Predators are well known for coaxing minors into disclosing personal information and sending explicit content with the intention of locating them in the real world, or sway them into meeting them in the real world to abuse, capture or take sexual advantage of.

An additional and equally as alarming way the internet is misused is through cyberbullying. One in five minors have reported experiencing some form of cyber-bulling, and one in five minors also confessed to mistreating a peer online. These statistics indicate that not only is bullying spreading further from the playground or classroom, but it is also becoming standard behaviour in adolescent online culture. It is deeply concerning that bullying is now just considered part of being a kid.

There is a momentous connection between bullying and suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents. Statistics indicate that there are approximately 4,400 deaths annually from suicide, and for every suicide, there are no less than 100 suicide attempts.

While you may think sharing something as simple as your phone number, birthday or any other personal information online may seem harmless, however this may be all it takes for someone to steal your identity. Personal information can offer a hacker access to your online accounts and finances and at its worst can be the cause of endless problems.

Another way in which hackers access your personal information is by posing as companies or organisations and sending out emails that include hyperlinks that install spyware onto your devices. Spyware transfers personal data to the hacker which can include information such as credit card details, bank accounts and passwords and usernames. With this information, hackers have the ability to steal an individual’s money and identity or even allow them to sell your information to other parties who may also misuse that information.

Although it seems like an unlikely scenario, it is reported that upwards of $2billion is lost annual due to identity crime, and 1.6 million Australians experience some form of fraud.

The internet is growing at a rapid rate with approximately one billion new users ever 2.7 years. The question now is with the use of internet being an inevitable part of our everyday lives, what can be done to make it a safer and protected place?

Unfortunately, there will always be malicious and evil people in the world who will always use tools like the internet for illegal activities and to satisfy their sick and twisted ways, however there are steps that can be taken to prevent unsolicited activity and scenarios.

It is crucial that parents communicate with their children to ensure they are practising safe use of the internet. They should encourage open conversations which enable them to feel comfortable to speak up about any uncomfortable situations. Children should also be educated about the dangers of speaking to strangers online and sharing personal information. There is software that can be installed on devices to prevent children from accessing any inappropriate websites as well as allowing parents to monitor internet activity.

The same can be said for cyberbullying. Monitoring of online activity and having a trusting and positive relationship is crucial in ensuring anyone feeling victimised or threatened online can seek support and guidance from a loved one.

There are many steps that can be taken to prevent the misuse of personal data such as having strong passwords which are different across all accounts, being wary of unsolicited emails from an unknown sender and avoiding opening hyperlinks as well as being educated about what information you share about yourself in your online profiles.

So yes, unethical human activity is primarily responsible for a lack of privacy and safety on the internet, however being wary and educated about these growing developments will assist in creating a safer environment for everyone online.

 

 

 

Reference List

“10 Internet Statistics Every Marketer Should Know in 2020 [Infographic]” – Ying Ling , 8 Nov 2019 https://dindostore.com/10-whatsapp-statistics-every-marketer-should-know-in-2020-infographic/

“Online Safety” Australian Institute of Family Studies – CFCA Resource Sheet – April 2018 https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/online-safety

“Home Computer Access and Internet Use” Child Trends – December 13, 2018https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329630086_The_Internet%27s_Effect_on_Memory_in_Children

“Cyberbullying Rates Have Doubled in the Past Year” 10 Daily – Siobhan Kenna – 9 September, 2018 https://10daily.com.au/news/australia/a180909boy/cyberbullying-rates-have-doubled-in-the-past-year-20180909

“Cyberbullying Facts and Statistics 2020” Sam Cook – March 6, 2020 https://www.comparitech.com/internet-providers/cyberbullying-statistics/

“Cyber Bullying Statistics” Source and date unknown http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html

https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics

“The Facts About Online Predators Every Parent Should Know” Christine Elgersma 25 July, 2017 https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/the-facts-about-online-predators-every-parent-should-know

 

“Online Predators – Statistics” https://www.puresight.com/Pedophiles/Online-Predators/online-predators-statistics.html