How Web Use Differs Between Adults and Teens

Posted by Ken

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When you consider the way a teen uses the Web when compared to an adult, then you can start to realize just how vulernable teens are.

On the whole, adults use the Internet for news, paying bills, e-mails, shopping, and information gathering. These are just some typical areas. Now, look at the way a teen uses the Web: social networking, entertainment, gaming, instant messaging, and blogging, to name a few.

Now, when you consider that a teen is a developing adult, looking to find themselves and others who share their views of the world, wanting to express themselves…well, do you see where I’m going with this? It’s that feeling of wanting to be accepted, wanting to be liked, that online predators feed on and take advantage of.

Online predators look for ways to get inside their victim’s head. They do this by lending their ear, sympathizing with them, sending them gifts, and developing an illusion of trust. And when the moment is right, they pounce, often with tragic results.

It’s not that teens are bad for wanting to express themselves or even doing it on the net. Everyone, to some degree, wants to be accepted and desires to share their opinions. The crime is that they do it without supervision. Parents all too often have become comfortable with the idea that their kid must be safe because, well, they’re at home, of course. Since the Internet-connected computer entered the scene, that’s not true anymore.

Parents, treat your children’s computer use with just as much concern as you would when they’re out at the mall. The Internet is a very useful and powerful thing. Unfortunately, there are those that would abuse its power to use unsuspecting children. Set rules, ask them where they’ve been. If they fuss and cry out “you’re invading my privacy”, reply with “No, I’m being a responsible parent.”