Devotees and critics alike are one in saying that the Internet is the ultimate tool of autonomy; from the same autonomy stems the good and the bad, the favorable and the detrimental, and that autonomy is sometimes, if not most of the times, abused and social injury is the result.
Precisely that is the problem: social injury, or damage to society, to put it more bluntly. To call it ‘oppressing’ makes things rather sensational — in what context? Tormenting, coercing or keeping things down as in ‘limiting’? Which brings us to the whole point: “How is the Internet treating our kids?” “Is Internet oppressing our children?” Welcome to the loop; the great debate.
As would any debate, ensues the “cons” side of the issue; the dreadful side of the Internet now being exposed. The Internet is allegedly inflicting social injury by way of exposing the children to the perils of moral degradation, the likes of pornography and its filthy ilk.
But this is the same Internet that is giving us the comforts. The Internet and the pack of information technology breakthroughs are the kind of advancements that, on a keener observation, are created to empower the new generation. By decentralizing the creative process, the advantages are being reaped by those working on collaborations, notwithstanding the distance and time between us. Quite true to most, the Internet is an inexpensive and accessible channel of communication.
Yet, Internet entrepreneurs, and whatever sense going about them, are using the online machinery to fiscally prosper their businesses. What regulation? In an autonomous field, it’s their call. Here lie the bacteria germane to the issue of abuse. Cutting the blah-blah, the children are truly at stake, or rather their vulnerability.
The challenge is to find ways to address the issue: "Is Internet oppressing our children?" without disrespecting the Internet’s positive impact. Relevant to this, an expert’s prudent observation, sounding forewarning, says “the Internet of the present is not necessarily the Internet of the future…there is no guarantee that positive features…will endure.” It added that “the Internet will be subjected to distinctively antidemocratic values.” Is it…yet?
Regulate the Internet now and give it to the children to delight in virtuous information. To qualify what is “virtuous” is another issue. ‘Oppressing’ it will appear still especially when the debate tackles the issue on freedom of expression — and more importantly, how are the children ‘treated’ in this light? But the advent of serious regulation is like a whiff of change. And change is not always welcome.
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