Personal Thoughts

I chose this topic mainly because of how I grew up. I was an isolated kid who didn't go out much because I was so sheltered. That isolation only increased during COVID-19.

But it was at the same time that I was first introduced to the online atmosphere. From there, it was the first time I felt I understood my peers, what they liked, and how they interacted with each other. I finally felt that I was like them.

Of course, after having been sheltered for so long, I found myself exposed to the harsher facets of the Internet, and I soon learned that having so much access could be overwhelming. I bring this up because it is important to draw a line as to what parts of the Internet should be accessible to individuals. Children should have access to games, knowledge, and educational sites while maintaining a close eye on what they are consuming, while allowing them to be exposed to topics in moderation.

However, just as there is good, there is bad. Similar to physical bullying, cyberbullying is just as rampant and just as harmful. The main issue is that it’s difficult to crack down on because it’s so easy to ‘start over’ on the Internet. People can make multiple accounts, hack into others and pretend to be a friend. This doesn’t only apply to bullying, but also online sexual predation and financial fraud as well.

It’s important to understand how to be safe on the Internet, because while it may be a free-roaming world, where you can interact with anything and everyone, there are hazards and consequences for every action.