Internet and Children: Myths and Realities

Myth #1: Children at school do not browse inappropriate content since they use the Internet under strict supervision.

Reality: One or two teachers in a Computer Lab cannot monitor all activities on so many computer screens at the same time.

An innocent search such as "toys" or "film songs" can return an array of inappropriate links to a child's computer screen. Any click on those links can display a web page with obscene content in it and it can suddenly take the young, gullible minds by surprise.

Research have shown that children have become addicted to sexually explicit material in the Internet after being accidently exposed to such content the first time.

Myth #2: Children should have to know all those "inappropriate" content. So there is no need to filter such content.

Reality: This is not so. Most of the obscene content found on the Internet are perversions. This kind of content is inappropriate for children of any age. Studies have shown that such content can create permanent psychological damage (See the report by The National Academies, USA: http://www.nap.edu/books/0309082749/html/ for details).

Online obscenity is banned by the Indian Information Technology Act 2000 (Chapter XI Paragraph 67). See the resources page.

Myth #3: Even if we block such content at school children will access the Internet at other [unprotected] places any way. So there is no point in blocking it just at schools.

Reality: Other than home, school is where children spent most of their time. If they are exposed to wrong Internet content at school; it will be like a breach in a dam which shall flood their minds with evil quickly. It is wisdom to protect them first at school where they spent most of their time.

Myth #4: There are other media which provide inappropriate content. We need to block them before we control the Internet.

The breadth, scope, variety and reach of inappropriate content of all other media combined together is just like a drop of water compared to the volume of such content accessible through the Internet.

Reality: It is true that there are other media which carry inappropriate content. But there is no other media which is as easy as the Internet to access such content.