COMMENTARY

Teens need to be careful while using the Internet

by Erin Jackson

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Is the Internet a curse or a blessing? Some people may say it is both, which seems to be the best conclusion rather than pinpointing it as one or the other. 

The Internet is good in that it can be used to gather information very easily and quickly especially when doing research. 

It is also good for keeping in contact with friends and family who live in other parts of the world and it is very popular for downloading music. 

However, like most things, just as there are good points there are also bad points. As far as the Internet is concerned, the bad points may lead to unpleasant results, especially where teens or younger children are involved. 

Some young people may be pulled into the Internet world and they may become addicted to it. As a result they constantly have to check their mail and chat to friends probably whom they have just come from school with. If they just sit in front of the computer screen for hours playing games and doing 

whatever else they please this probably means they are looking at and getting involved with things they should not be. 

Most of the time, their parents are not around to censor what they do and see on the Internet.

As teens and young people become addicted to the Internet, they may lose contact with the real world because they are pulled into this virtual world, which they believe is the be all and end all of life. 

Because of losing contact with the real world, they lose contact with real people and believe that these screen names, on any instant messaging tool, are their friends. 

As human beings, we need physical human contact; it is part of our nature. It is not healthy in any way to replace proper physical human contact with a screen. 

The Internet is a virtual playground for the most sadistic people in the world, they run crude sites, and they manipulate younger people into believing whatever they want them to believe, they may even go as far as getting that person to meet them which sometimes does not have good results. 

Teens disappear every year due to private meetings with friends they have met over the Internet. 

As far as Cayman is concerned I have never heard of any such reports, although, it is still quite possible to happen and even though this is a small island, one can never be too careful.

I am not saying that young people should be banned from using the internet or always have a parent looking over their shoulder, as the Internet does provide as much good as it does bad. 

What I am saying is that young people need to use some sort of discretion while accessing sites and information on the Internet. They should not get involved with people or things over the Internet if they they think they cannot handle the consequences.

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