francene--blog. Year 2013
  • Home
  • Blog

August 12th

8/12/2013

 
A survey shows almost one in five children who use social networking sites suffered a negative experience last year—bullying, cyber stalking, unwanted sexual messages, and feeling pressure to dress a certain way.

This figure is shocking. One fifth of all children! Yesterday, I read that over 30% of all homes in England were not connected to, or did not use, the internet. Therefore, the figure is even worse.

PictureLayoutsparks.com
After a growing concern around the experiences children and young people were exposed to on the internet, the NSPCC commissioned a survey.

A large number of users of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were under the minimum age of 13. Figures taken from the survey showed the most common bad experiences among children were bullying and trolling. This involves insulting or intimidating others, usually under a pseudonym, to provoke a reaction.

Earlier this month, a 14-year-old girl hanged herself. Her father said she had been sent abusive messages on social networking site, ask.fm., which had 13.2 million daily visitors worldwide in June. Following the death, the Latvia-based website ordered a law firm to carry out a full and independent audit including its safety features.

Website members can ask each other questions and then get replies, which include text, photos and videos. One of its most controversial features is the ability for members to pose questions to others anonymously.


Picturewww.nls.uk
How dreadful that young people feel they can't speak to anyone about their problems on social networking sites. Why should they have to go through such a trial of fire to advance in normal society?

Once, children played outside on the streets or in country areas and learned how to deal with bullying in the playground by sticking up for themselves in a verbal and physical way. More often than not, another child would intervene. At home, they could read books like fairy tales for their amusement. Later, the young people established close friends with whom they could discuss their problems.

In Nuremburg, Germany, preschool children play outside in all weather under supervision. On farms in Australia, children are free to roam and learn all about nature and the animals.


Picture
Nowadays, more English children are confined to their homes because of real threats of abuse or stranger-danger in the streets. They turn to seeking friendship in a mental way over the internet. This separates them from the protection and advice of others.

It seems there is no halting progress, if we could label cyberspace with such a term. But it seems to me that humanity's young are bearing the brunt of a new form of danger.
If the Pied Piper comes along with an offer of help, we'd better pay him his dues.


Aida Ingram link
8/11/2013 07:31:16 pm

This is going to be a growing problem, it would be nice if we could solve it in a way that would be truly helpful!

Francene Stanley link
8/11/2013 10:46:52 pm

I agree that we need to find a solution.

Gillie link
8/11/2013 11:05:44 pm

We live in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields and woods. Now my children are teenagers they would prefer to be closer to civilisation! However, when they were young it was perfect for them, rain, snow or sun they were out and about getting mucky, building dens and doing all sorts of things I am sure I told them not to!

Francene Stanley link
8/12/2013 03:10:35 am

Your children's childhood sounds ideal to me. They should count themselves lucky. Soon enough, they have to fit into a structured world.

Alana link
8/12/2013 08:19:46 am

This message must be heard. Francene, I used to work with someone who had a 12 year old daughter, and that daughter's friend committed suicide over online bullying. Makes you want to stop the world and step off. In some ways I dread the day I become a grandmother (not pending - yet.)

Francene Stanley link
8/12/2013 06:56:50 pm

How dreadful to know of someone close who took their own life over this type of bullying. What a sad thing.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Catastrophe
    Creativity
    Family
    Life Experiences
    Mother
    News
    Novel Writing
    Novel-writing
    Retirement
    World

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.