Children's Safety: Online and Off

As a digital native (a person who has grown up with the internet) it is difficult to imagine a parent's natural fears regarding the internet as a new and potentially harmful medium. When I was a child, back in the early 90s the internet was still a fairly new creation, and arguably a safer environment. The amount of websites, good and bad, were just in the thousands. This pales in comparison to the over 600 million websites available now. Over the years since it's creation the internet has gotten progressively larger and more easily accessible for all ages. Parent reception of the internet generally contains mild skepticism regarding the safety for their children. However, most children and teenagers still use the internet either on a weekly or daily basis. The article that I'm going to discuss ties into children's use of the internet, and covers topics of child safety online,

This article, published earlier this month, begins by tying instances of neglected and unsupervised children to unsupervised children on the internet. The author creates an interesting and compelling discussion revolving around this question: "How is it that a society so protective of children offline has left them largely unsupervised online?" The article briefly discusses the dangers of internet use, such as predators, cyber-bullying, pornography, or even the digital footprint that children begin to compile from an early age. One clarifying point made by the author says that the risk for these are low, but so is the risk of being kidnapped while coming home from the park. I was pleased by this comment, because the author admits that these risks--while existent--are low. The article then quickly delves into the discussion of child safety, and surveillance. The author discusses two technologies called VISR and Artimys which both rely on "mild-monitoring" to scan children's messages on SNS for harmful or threatening material. Parents as seen as uncomfortable with the idea of spying on their kid, and children don't want their conversations monitored by a software either. They conclude that "(...) children's expectation of privacy far outweighs parents' demand for their safety and the marketplace is responding accordingly."

To begin, I think there is an interesting discussion to be had about why parents are more rigid regarding offline surveillance of their child in comparison to online. There could be many reasons for this, the first of which is that there has been a compilation of social rules developed, maintained and passed down through the years regarding offline safety. "Don't talk to strangers", "hold my hand so we don't get lost", and "don't keep secrets from your parents" are just a few examples. The internet is a fairly new creation meaning there is no equivalent set of rules maintained through society. Another explanation is something we have already touched on in class: the disconnect between the internet and "the real world." Sometimes, we don't see the internet as really "real", which includes it's potential to cause harm or consequences. 

A second point to discuss is the idea of "mild-monitoring" as a form of child safety and protection. My own personal standpoint is that I believe children and especially teenagers deserve their privacy. While their "mild-monitoring" only looks out for "harmful" material I have my uncertainties. There are other ways to provide a safe internet experience without resorting to breaking your child's privacy. Safety and privacy settings are available on most if not all computers. Safe search on google is available, and filters can be set up to keep children off harmful websites. I believe that--as we covered briefly in class--it is part of the parent's role to inform and educate children about the positives and dangers of internet use. Monitoring children's conversations is a step too far in my opinion. As for if it would actually help protect children I cannot say for sure. I am interested to see a case study where you have half of the families install this software, and the other half not install this software and see the results. However, like the article said, there isn't enough demand, and therefore the marketplace sees no place for such a product. 

To conclude, I am interested to see if child monitoring software is actually productive at protecting children, but I still have my reserves about breaching children's privacy. 

Seniors and Online Dating

When one thinks about online dating, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it strange teenagers looking for dates, the busy young adult who doesn’t have time to meet potential daters, or even the desperate 40 something women looking for her soul mate? If you said yes then you may be surprised to find out that the online dating scene is seeing the rise of a new, grayer group using it. In my article Online DatingCould Have Been Made For Older Adults- They Love It, one can find a rather intriguing look into online dating that is usually overlooked.

It seems that older adults have not only started to use various online dating outlets, they crave them. Many older adults see online dating as a way to gain back independence that they may have lost over the years. Before online dating, most single older adults would have to rely on family or friends in order to find another potential date around their age. But to make matters even harder, around this age many adults seem to lose interest in dating or seeing other people. In short, the average single older adult of the past had a long road ahead of them in order to find a relationship. However, online dating has turned older adult dating upside down.  Now instead of relying on friends and family to be introduced to potential dates, they can simply search for them at their own convenience.  And on top of that, since the potential date is on a “dating” site, it is clear that their intentions are to find someone else to date. Hence, older couples are rapidly starting to see the advantages of online dating given their unique situation and are making remarkable strides because of it.

However, we are also starting to notice new trends among older adults that tend to have everyone shocked. The kisses, hugs, winks, and flirts they are sending online are not the only ones they are doing. Older adults have started the trend of becoming masters of dating, and some messaging every possible match on a site in hopes of obtaining a date. Researchers have also begun to notice that in older adults it takes considerably less time talking online for them to agree to meet someone. Older adults have increasingly become more okay with engaging in sexual activities with an online match almost immediately, but with a majority happening within four weeks. And yes you heard me right, many older adults still care about sex. While it is usually a taboo subject to talk about, the article goes into depth about talking how through online dating older adults are “breaking the stereotype” when it comes to sex. It even quotes one older adult user who admits “sex is extremely important.” So cast all ideas you had about your single grandparents aside.

In conclusion, it has become obvious that older adults may not be the biggest users of online dating, but they as a community have mastered the art of it far better than any other age group. Given their unique situations both physically and mentally, older adults truly have benefited from online dating.

The Rise of the Online Black Market

The internet is easily one of mankind’s most important inventions of the 20th century, perhaps even of all time.  There is no denying that the internet benefits us humans in many ways, making it very easy and convenient for us to effectively communicate with one another, look up information, and buy products that we want or need.  However, with all these benefits the internet provides us, there is a dark side to our web use as well.  

In my last blog, I discussed how trolling and bullying abound on the internet, and although these behaviors are just as damaging, quite possibly even more so than your usual schoolyard bully variety, there are few precedents and laws in place that can effectively prosecute these online criminals.  It is a sad reality that many cyberbullies, such as Lori Drew, the woman whose cyberbully actions drove victim Megan Meier to commit suicide, literally got away with murder.  Unfortunately, trolling and cyberbullying aren’t the only dark sides to the internet.  Black market websites also abound on the internet.

When the term “online shopping” is brought up, we usually think of websites like ebay and amazon, websites where we can buy anything from clothing and videogames to novelty items and collectibles.  You’re a student at Penn State and there’s no viable shopping mall near you?  No problem, with just a few clicks of your mouse and your debit card information, you’ll be able to buy a super fratty polo shirt and have it delivered to your dorm commons without even having to leave campus.  It’s 1 am and you’re feeling the munchies? You’ll be able to have Wings Over delivered to the library within 30 minutes, thanks to OrderUp.com.  Online shopping provides a level of unparalleled convenience to shoppers worldwide, saving time and enabling many to buy items they normally wouldn’t have the ability too.  

Although the vast majority of internet shoppers use the Web to buy legitimate products, there are those that do not.  Black market websites have sprung up on the internet in recent years, one of the most notable being Silk Road.  Silk Road was a website that was created in February of 2011.  Unlike its namesake from China, the Silk Road website did not deal in silk, but rather in more illicit items.  Users of the Silk Road online marketplace could buy and trade in items ranging from drugs like cocaine and ecstasy to fake identities using bitcoins, a form of online currency that can be exchanged for real money.  The Silk Road website was a part of the darknet, a private network where connections are made using only between trusted peers using non-standard protocols and ports. This extreme secrecy and privacy that the darknet operated under makes it extremely difficult for law enforcement to track.  

What is incredibly disturbing about the rise of the darknet and black-market websites is how much more convenient it is to engage in criminal activities.  Much like how you can order Papa John’s online and have it sent to your house within an hour, you can now order up some cocaine and have it shipped to your residence rather conveniently.  While in the past, black market deals had to be made in street corners and secret locations, with the fear of double crosses or law enforcement lurking in every dark corner, nowadays, with the right knowledge and connections, any determined lawbreaker can now buy any type of illegal substance and/or product through black market sites such as the Silk Road, with relatively little fear of criminal prosecution.  

In October of 2013, the FBI shut down the Silk Road marketplace and arrested Ross William Ulbricht, the alleged owner and administrator.  At the time that the Silk Road was shut down, it was earning an estimated $35 to $45 million in annual revenue, had made a profit of roughly $1.2 billion since it’s creation, and had around 60,000 site visits per day.  Although the Silk Road marketplace, which was one of the most visited black market sites has been shut down, it has revolutionized the way criminal activity is conducted.  For every black market site that is shut down, others will spring up to replace them, as sites such as Agora Drug Market and Black Market Reloaded, not to mention Silk Road 2.0 and 3.0.  From drugs to firearms and even assassinations, these darknet sites will offer any type of contraband or illicit activity to anyone who’s willing to pay, and any determined criminal can now buy literally anything illegal they want from the relative safety of their home and the anonymity of the vast and secretive dark web.  Like it or not, criminal activities have overtaken the vast and hugely lawless frontier of the Web, and these criminals are not going away anytime soon.  

Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/10/02/end-of-the-silk-road-fbi-busts-the-webs-biggest-anonymous-drug-black-market/

http://www.wired.com/2013/11/silk-road/  

 

Grandma's and iPads

Anna Hernandez 

CAS 283 Blog 

  

This past Christmas, my family and I had gotten my seventy two year old grandmother an iPad. It was interesting to observe her reaction to it, due to the fact that this was a gift she was not expecting. When receiving it, she asked what the purpose of the device was. I remember my mom explaining to her all of the things she can do on it so much more easily. For example my grandmother loves to read books, is in a book club, and subscribes to magazines to buy more books. My mom suggested that instead of buying the books, she can just buy them online and read them on there, which would be more efficient  for her. My grandmother kept on insisting to us that she didn't know how to use it and looked at the iPad as if it was so foreign to her. It was really interesting. I went over to her to try and explain how to use it. Even though it was as simple as a swipe to login, she was still hesitant to be involved with the technology. On top of receiving and iPad, we had also installed Wifi to the house so that of course it would be compatible with the iPad. She was very overwhelmed. One thing that I find hysterical is the fact that my seventy two year old grandmother texts. The funniest part is the way she texts. Every time that she will text me back, she signs off at the end like you would in a letter. She will respond the the message and end it with a, “love grandma”. Not only that but her abbreviations are hard to understand as well. It is easy to tell the age difference between an older person texting versus a younger person texting. Even though she is new to this technology, she is willing and wanting to be a part of the world today. 

So I asked myself why it was necessary to now introduce her to the latest and greatest technology there is today. I came up with one answer, being that it was easier for us younger generation people, including my parents, for my grandparents to essentially join in. It was also the fact that technology made simple or complex tasks so much easier, so in a sense it was beneficial for my grandmother to learn how to do things in todays world. Phew Research Center states that 77% of older adults aged 65+ had a cell phone and 59% were internet users. This indicates that over time and especially in recent years, the number of older adults in online communication has been increasing. Phew Research Center also states that older adults with a higher income tend to go online more than those who have a lower income.“Among seniors with an annual household income of $75,000 or more, 90% go online and 82% have broadband at home. For seniors earning less than $30,000 annually, 39% go online and 25% have broadband at home. Fully 87% of seniors with a college degree go online, and 76% are broadband adopters. Among seniors who have not attended college, 40% go online and just 27% have broadband at home” (Phew Research Center. pewinternet.org). 

I think it is nice to have older adults be involved in online communication because it allows for an increased amount of communication between the older adult and their peers. They also receive access to the wonders of technology and can benefit from its uses. 

Smith, Aaron. Older Adult and Technology Use. Phew Research Center. April 3rd, 2014. April 21st, 2015.http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/ 

Catfished

Nicky Daniels

Catfishing someone is a new “trend” that seems to be spreading like wildfire.  Many people have heard about this new-ish phenomenon, whether it has been from watching the show on MTV called “Catfish” or if it is someone they know who has been cat fished or has cat fished someone else.  In an article written by Krystal Costa, 54% of online daters have felt that someone has presented false information in order to make themselves seem more attractive to other users, or whatever their motive was. 
Online dating is something that a lot of people are starting to do because they think that it is easier for them to meet people with common interests and talk to them.  Now I myself have never been cat fished I do know someone who has been.  Similar to the episode of catfish that we watched in class, my friend was also cat fished by someone who she considered a close friend.  In contrast to the episode we watched in class though, this “friend” did it for the laughs. 

                It started off as someone who my friend thought she could just talk to and be friends with.  That slowly turned into a relationship that progressively got more and more intimate.  Although, my friend was skeptical of this relationship because she had never met the person she was talking to, she continued to communicate with them.  The girl that was doing all the catfishing previously got kicked out of her former school for doing the exact same thing. When they would have phone calls this girl got her cousin to talk on the phone and she had found pictures of the guy online.  Every time my friend wanted meet this guy he was always busy or his car had broken down so he could not drive to see her.  There was always an excuse involved when they tried to meet.  Eventually my friend figured out something was fishy, and called the girl out on what she was doing.  She denied everything but neither of us could find anything about this guy on the internet. 

                There are a lot of people who use the internet today and it is more than likely that people are not being completely honest with what they put online.  I do know a few people who have met their significant other online but I feel like it is not a very common thing to come by.  If I had to give advice to anyone who was talking to someone online, it would be to not trust everything that they are telling you and if they refuse to meet you or always have an excuse about meeting in person there is definitely something fishy going on.  

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/2014/04/25/catfishing-the-truth-about-deception-online/ 

The Dark Side

As we all know, the internet is a breeding ground for malicious thoughts and actions. This isn't a new concept, but it still seems to shock people when they hear about the terrible things people do/post/talk about while online. These things aren't aspects that would come up in normal face to face conversation, nor would they be considered appropriate or acceptable by the community as a whole.

I won't be delving too deeply into the darkness that awaits on the other side of the monitor, but I will cover some of the more basic, everyday assholes one can expect to encounter in a normal trip to the youtube comment section. This article from Psychology Today talks about, you guessed it, the psychological aspects behind the internets most hated persons... The trolls! If you've never heard of that word before, it refers to someone who comes into a conversation or discussion and posts comments, usually under a throwaway username, that are meant to disrupt the conversation or upset those partaking in said conversation. These are some decent examples of harmless trolling. Now, the article from above goes on to talk about a Canadian research survey in which the researchers discovered that those exhibiting extraordinarily high "Dark Tetrad" scores, or high scores in narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism, were more likely to be involved in and enjoy internet trolling activities. The author of the study goes on to say "Both trolls and sadists feel sadistic glee at the distress of others. Sadists just want to have fun ... and the Internet is their playground!" 

It even gives two measly tips to remember: 

1. Trolls are some truly difficult people 

2. It is your suffering that brings them pleasure, so the best thing you can do is ignore them. 

Buzzfeed has an entire guide on how to deal with trolls 

Their guide says basically the same things, like how these trolls come from the depths of the internet and how they get satisfaction out of making the average user upset or enraged and that there isn't a way to truly combat them because they don't act or feel like a normal person.

It also talks a little about "sea-lioning," which, as seen above, is an overly polite yet insistent pest. Their actions make the target enraged which, in turn, makes the "sea-lion" the victim of the situation. 

The article wraps up with the advice of just not responding to trolls. This will make them wonder if either their insult wasn't seen or if it wasn't even worth a reply. So in the end, the only action you should take against these internet annoyances in no action what so ever. It might go against your beliefs to not stand up for yourself while wild insults are hurled repeatedly at you, but there isn't typically any real threat of physical harm from these pesky mosquitos, just an annoying buzz and the occasional bite that fades rather quickly.

Catfishing

In today's day and age, it is not at all uncommon for a young person's identity to be tied almost entirely to how they portray themselves online. In fact, for many in this generation, instagram likes and twitter followers are used as a way to easily quantify their self worth. While social media and the internet have benefited mankind tremendously, it is important to be aware of the possible risks of being too wrapped up in your internet persona (or other people's).
Along with the rise of the internet age and all that comes with it, people are increasingly using the internet as a means of attracting a romantic partner. However, the rise of online dating brought with it the rise of a new threat: catfishing. Catfishing is defined as the act of lying online in order to portray yourself in a more positive light. As the article I read this week cleverly points out, we are all in a sense "catfish" online. We have all at some point edited a picture, or cropped someone out to make ourselves look as favorable as possible. It is no surprise, then, that this has lead to some people taking it to the absolute extreme. People go so far as to making entirely fake profiles just for the sake of keeping a relationship with someone. While many have heard stories of people being catfished, a friend of mine had an experience on the other end of the spectrum when she discovered a fake Twitter profile that had been using her photos in order to catfish people. This was very disturbing to her and the profile removed from the website, but the shock over the thought that someone would actually do something like that still lingers to this day. The important questions to address at this point are "what exactly causes this bizarre behavior?" and "how could we make sure we are not getting catfished?"
As pointed out before, in today's day and age much of our identity is tied to what we do on the internet. It has become our main means of communication, and how we portray ourselves online is how we want others to view us. However, it is an unfortunate truth that many people out there are simply not happy with themselves and would rather hide who they really are from the world. It is these people who use the internet as a way to craft a persona any way they choose so that they could lure "victims" in to try and build a relationship. It is not a surprise that many will choose to use pictures of attractive young people in order to get their victims interested. It is clear that it takes an extremely lonely and insecure person to hide behind the internet. For this reason, while it is certainly inexcusable, I believe showing sympathy for those who catfish is important to getting to the root of the problem. If those people had a higher sense of self worth, they probably would never have resorted to something so low.
As far as avoiding being catfished, you should always meet someone in person before you start to talk to them online, and never meet with someone until you are 100% sure they are real. If they refuse to Skype, and talking on the phone is fairly difficult, you should be wary of a catfish. All of this is fairly obvious, but in a generation so wrapped up in social media, it can be all too easy to trust everything you read.