Moreover, sexual advances have risen since the Internet was introduced to the public. The increase is due to the number of younger users. Approximately 35% of 10- to 17-year-olds surf the Net daily, while 69% surf weekly (see Curriculum Review: A monthly report of what works in our schools). In addition, the number of Internet using children has tripled from 8 million to 25 million in the past three years. The number is only expected to grow. With the increase of youth users, sexual solicitations are also expected to increase. In the year 2000, approximately 20% of children on line were sexually assaulted online. Not only were the children sexual assaulted, but 25% have encountered pornography on the Net. Is evidence shows the abundance of pornography and sexual offenders on the Internet. To find help on this topic see Children and the Internet on this Web site.)
Violent information is still available on the Internet. Indeed, books that cannot be found at any library or bookstore are available on the Internet. I was able to access and download a copy of the Anarchist's Cookbook (see Eat The Rich: The Big Book of Mischief). According to Frank Tuerkheimer at the University of Wisconsin, "The Internet is a means of communication."
Indeed, the Internet does provide information, however, the information provided on the Internet can be a means for negative behavior. It is not only the criminals who access the negative information on the Web, but also children who are growing up in an ever-changing, complex society can now gain access to this information.
Violent men don't need the Internet to find explosives or guns; it is the easily influenced that we have to worry about. (U.S. News & World Report, May 22, 1995, 62). Violent men who are searching the Internet, however, can find sites like The Nuremberg Files, a pro-life Web site which lists the names and addresses of abortion doctors. The site advocates the murder of these abortion doctors, and also includes information about their families (New Statesman, Feb. 19, 1999, 41). Because the Web site was American, it was taken to U.S. court because the material violated the First Amendment. The doctors and families won their case and were awarded over $100 million. First Amendment lawyers are upset over the decision and over the upset in a person's ability to express oneself on the Internet. This decision is setting the precedent in governmental regulation of negative Web sites. Advocating doctor's deaths and placing home addresses can only provoke a reader to action. Here is one penultimate Web site that is the center of positive reinforcement for negative behavior.
However, the most quintessential example of children and violence influenced by the Internet is the murder massacre at Columbine High. On April 20th, 1999, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris walked into their high school and murdered 12 of their classmates, one teacher, and wounded 23, before killing themselves. It was a grotesque act of pure mayhem, helped along by the usage of technology. The two murderers made five videotapes of themselves, which showed the heavy influence of the video game Doom.
The game Doom, along with its video joystick, is recorded to have made Harris a better marksman (Time, Dec 20, 1999, 42). The games, with invincible mode turned on, only fed the murderers' imaginations.
Doom is a violent game where you have eight different weapons, ranging from a chainsaw to the BFG (Big F___ing Gun), the purpose being to destroy all the demons of Hell. The game can become pretty gory, with blood and body parts flying. Such a violent game as this one or others can easily be downloaded off the Internet. One site for some of these games is at Greensting's Internet Doom Gaming Resource). Game Wads and other violence-based games can be found here and at other sites dedicated to Doom.
Quake is another violent video game with just as much gore as Doom. Wrapped up in other gore, such as violent movies like Reservoir Dogs didn't help. Yet, one of the main issues surrounding the killings is the fact that Harris had a Web site posting all of this negative information. Harris states his intent and purpose, part of which reads: "All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you as I can, especially a few people. Like Brooks Brown." (Time, 45)
Direct violent threats such as this are violations of the U.S. government restrictions on the First Amendment. Any incitement to commit crime or innocuous forms of utterance are not allowed on the Internet. The police were even notified of the Web site, yet paid no attention to the material. The school deputy even tried to warn the deans that Harris was looking up how to make pipe bombs on the Internet. These warnings were ignored. Because the Internet, with its wide-range means of communication and disastrous effects, was ignored by authorities only shows the underestimation of the positive reinforcement for negative behavior. Negative behavior turned into violent behavior by the two boys now proves that the Internet is a viable resource to find and act upon negative behavior.
A study done by Time revealed that 75% of people feel that the Internet is to blame for the Columbine massacre.
Influence of Violence in Pop Culture--
With violence encased in movies, games, music, and the Internet, is pop culture changing? From the hateful lyrics of Korn's "Kill You" to the CD Bombthreat Before She Blows, found in Eric Harris' bedroom, music has become an influential media in today's society. Murders in the 1980s were blamed on the music of Megadeth, Metallica, and Black Sabbath. In previous generations, parents were able to monitor their children, and what they bought, watched, and listened to.
Nowadays things have become a little more complicated. Free downloads off of Napster and other Web sites, have made parental control tougher. In today's world, governmental control on an ever-growing, seemingly unstoppable Internet is not enough. Parents need to get involved with their children's lives in order to make a difference and stop the Internet from becoming the ultimate source for negative behavior.
Because of pop culture, many behaviors are mimicked. Sports and TV figures are becoming role models, and along with that comes a sick wave of violent copying. In the last five years, school shootings has gone from a shocking event to an everyday occurrence. Hundreds of schools have been hit with threats and violence before and after the Columbine incident (Time, May 31, 1999, 38). Just recently, a six-year-old child shot one of his classmates with a pistol belonging to his parents. The violence that is ruining families and destroying communities can be caused from an incident that produced positive reinforcement for negative behavior, stemming from the Internet. Yet, there are many things parents can do to control their children. (See Children and the Net on this Web site.)
Warning Signs For Parents--
When can someone, especially a parent, tell if their child is being influenced by these negative aspects of the Internet? Here are a few warning signs for parents, provided by netaddiction.com .
Warning Signs in the School-Aged Child:
1. Has trouble paying attention and concentrating
2. Often disrupts classroom activities
3. Does poorly in school
4. Frequently gets into fights with other children in school
5. Reacts to disappointments, criticism, or teasing with extreme and intense anger, blame, or revenge
6. Watches many violent television shows and movies, or plays a lot of violent video games
7. Has few friends, and is often rejected by other children because of his or her behavior
8. Makes friends with other children known to be unruly or aggressive
9. Consistently does not listen to adults
10. Is insensitive to the feelings of others
11. Is cruel or violent toward pets or other animals
12. Is easily frustrated.
1. Consistently does not listen to authority figures
2. Pays no attention to the feelings or rights of others
3. Mistreats people and seems to rely on physical violence or threats of violence to solve problems
4. Often expresses the feeling that life has treated him or her unfairly
5. Does poorly in school and often skips class
6. Misses school frequently for no identifiable reason
7. Gets suspended from or drops out of school
8. Joins a gang, or gets involved in fighting, stealing, or destroying property
9. Drinks alcohol and/or uses inhalants or drugs.
Hate Web Sites
The prevalence of hate sites has also become a major feature of negative activity upon the Internet. From serious white power groups like the National Alliance to disgusting racism by the KKK, hate sites are also an easy find on the Internet National Alliance. Membership forms can also be filled out over the Internet to join the 'illustrious' Ku Klux Klan.
The disturbing thing about access to these Web sites is that the hate encapsulated within only provides the wrong kind of information for young minds. Tons of site links and whole communities of hate on the Internet will surround a child and provide a negative environment for the child to grow up in. However, the First Amendment protects sites like these.
Can hate sites, with incitements to commit crime on an entire race of people, be banned if the site is coming from another country? China and Singapore are two of the only countries trying to enforce what their citizens can view on the Internet (Rick Decker). What is to come about the rest of the world? The power to enforce and regulate the Internet is starting to become a world issue rather than a national issue.
