SURF SAFE

Every child must be exposed to the Internet is the Clinton Administration's policy on the Internet. However, shouldn't children understand the power of the Internet before they log on? Shouldn't they realize the dangers that lurk behind the simplicity of the Internet? Shouldn't they be aware of the faceless criminals that prowl behind the glorious facade of the Internet?

The idea of safety on the Internet is one of the topics being discussed among computer experts currently. A major share of their worries has to deal with computer "illiterates" who are accessing the web and are providing, unknowingly, providing all the information that may potentially alter their lives, forever. Most of the people who browse the Internet do so as a recreational activity. But part of the reason they find themselves on the Internet on a regular basis is because they can get things done with ease, and there is no physical strain involved with working on the Internet. This prompts two important questions, should the Internet be made a tougher place to access for people with minimal knowledge about computers? Are Americans becoming couch potatoes because of the Internet? The answer to these questions, I leave you to think about.

On an average, about 40 million people log-on to the Internet, a number expected to quadruple in the next 730 days. Every person who has been an Internet user for a year or more is aware of the incredible dangers that go along with the ease of the Internet. A majority of the 40 million people that use the Internet can be grouped under the "illiterate" category, a statistic that must change quickly.

Children are also one of the larger groups that use the Internet, and more children are exposed to the Internet each day as the PCs continue to invade every home in America. As the kids are exposed to the Internet, they treat it like a toy. A scenario that can be compared to a kid finding his dad's gun, not knowing the complete power of it but choosing to use it anyway. Ultimately, the person who abuses the power of the gun or the Internet causes damage. The Internet is referred to as a Global Village, and like every village or city, it has its magnificent buildings, and landmarks. However, villages and cities also have their alleyways, and gang-ridden areas, areas where parents do not want their children to stray. Parents play a crucial role in how the Internet is used; they must forbid some Internet addresses for their children to visit is an extremely healthy practice.

The Internet is a place where everybody is equal, there are no presidents, and there are no beggars. There are no racial differences; the Internet is the one place where there is complete peace. The word "hate" has no meaning to people who interact with each other everyday. The Internet is a place where everybody speaks one language. It is a getaway where no one can bother you. The Internet has succeeded in something nothing else has, to bring the world together, without actually going out of the house.

Although, the sense of equality on the Internet is immense, having no authority also poses a problem. The WebPages that some people post on the Internet are unthinkable. Kids surfing the Internet have hardly an idea of what they are doing. If such content is not administered and actions are not taken quickly, the Internet might become a restricted area.

The Internet has an abundance of knowledge. The Internet provides access to some of the best places to gain knowledge; part of the reason every school in America has an Internet connection presently.

As the human race marches on triumphantly, the invention of the Internet might be regarded as important as the wheel 2000 years from today, or it might be looked upon with hate and contempt. The bottom line is, the future of the Internet is in our hands, and it all depends on how we choose to use it.

Date Posted : June 14, 1998.

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