Virtual World: Harmful or Safe?

The World Wide Web is a gateway to unlimited information and resources. The internet is one of the best things that have happened to us in this highly advance digital age and it has helped us in many ways. Technological advancements are so great and they are a great asset to help enhance and improve our standard of living. However, there are always two sides to a coin. The internet is a great asset if used in the correct manner but if it is misused and abused, it may cause grave danger.

We have unlimited access to the web. What we are exposed to on the web is of major concern. There are no restrictions to what is published online as it is not filtered. This is a concern because what children are exposed to may be violence, sexually explicit materials or other negative materials which may cause harm to children psychologically or emotionally.

For example, the article entitled “Death in cyburbia” published online in the Guardian Unlimited on April 16, 2007, reports about the suicide of a man who was broadcasted live before a hundred visitors in an internet chatroom when he hung himself in front of his webcam.

Imagine out of the hundred visitors in that chatroom, how many of them could be children. Witnessing a suicide attempt can leave psychological and emotional effects on a child. According to Lester (2003), “Symbols often evoke strong emotional responses among viewers”. Children are the main concern because their minds are so innocent and easily influenced. Children nowadays are very advanced when it comes to technology. They play online games, surf the internet and chat online. They are not protected in any way if the parents do not make any effort to protect their children from being exposed to harmful materials. Parents have to make their children’s ‘playground’ a safer place.

According to Kress and van Leeuwen (2006), “Visual communication is always coded”. What we see and how we interpret messages according to Kress and van Leeuwen (2006), are interpreted through codes structured by culture, knowledge and experience in the one society. However, we also adapt and cultivate other cultures when exposed to them. For example, kids nowadays are very westernised because the mainstream media is dominated by the western media. Because of these external influences, it is not safe for children to explore the world of the internet without proper supervision.


References:

Harkin, J 2007, ‘Death in cyburbia’, The Guardian Unlimited, viewed 27 October 2007,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2057915,00.html

Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading images: The grammar of visual design, 2nd edn, Routledge, London.