The Internet may not be such a dangerous place for children after all.A task force created by 49 state attorneys general to look into the problem of sexual solicitation of children online has concluded that there really is not a significant problem.The findings ran counter to popular perceptions of online dangers as reinforced by depictions in the news media like NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series. One attorney general was quick to criticize the group’s report.
http://nytimes.com/2009/01/14/technology/internet/14cyberweb.html
http://iht.com/articles/2009/01/14/technology/14cyberweb.phpChildren are their own worst enemies online, says internet safety task force
Worries that the internet and social networking services like MySpace pose a threat to child safety are overblown, a report by industry, academics and technology experts has suggested.The report, released today, found that the biggest threats to children’s safety online may come from other children, and that their own behavior could contribute to the trouble they encounter.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article5515188.eceEnhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies [report]
Final Report of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force to the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking of State Attorneys General of the United States
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/pubrelease/isttf/Internet threat to children may be overblown: study [Reuters]
Worries that the internet and social networking services like MySpace pose a threat to child safety may be overblown, a report by industry, academics and technology experts suggests.The report, which will be released in the United States later today, suggests the biggest threats to children’s safety online may come from other children.And it says their own behaviour could contribute to the trouble they encounter.”Minors are not equally at risk online,” the report said.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKTRE50D0KJ20090114
http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-37431520090114
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/14/2465766.htmNet threat to minors less than feared by Larry Magid
A long awaited report from the Internet Safety Technical Task Force concludes that children and teens are less vulnerable to sexual predation than many have feared. The report also questions the efficacy and necessity of some commonly prescribed remedies designed to protect young people.The task force was formed as a result of a joint agreement between MySpace and 49 state attorneys general.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10142096-238.htmlTechnology alone can’t keep kids safe online, says report [AP]
A task force charged with assessing technologies for protecting children from unwanted contact online has concluded that no single approach is foolproof and that parental oversight is vital.
www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10551844
news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/panel-technology-alone-cant-protect-kids-online-20090114-7git.html
news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/panel-technology-alone-cant-protect-kids-online-20090114-7git.html
Report Calls Online Threats to Children Overblown
The Internet may not be such a dangerous place for children after all. A task force created by 49 state attorneys general to look into the problem of sexual solicitation of children online has concluded that there really is not a significant problem.