Internet Predators Essay -- Internet Predation

Internet Predators In recent years, the Internet has become the number one choice for doing research. A person can find information on just about anything. There are websites devoted to cooking recipes, musicians, schools, and pornography. Many schools will even allow students to apply for admission over the Internet. Schools such as California State University, Northridge give students an option to register for classes through the school website, making it quick and easy to get classes. The Internet is truly the "information superhighway." Not everyone who accesses the Internet uses it for research. Many people, especially young people use the Internet for e-mail and chatting. Chat rooms and instant messengers are becoming more prevalent on the Internet. Internet service providers such as America Online (AOL) have chat rooms where people from all over the world can chat about almost anything. AOL has chat rooms for teens, singles, religious groups, sports, and many other topics. If a person in a chat room likes what someone else in the chat room is saying, he or she can send a private message. If the two people get along, they can add each other to their buddy list so they can always talk when both are online. However, a problem may arise if a person does not use this way of chatting responsibly. After all, does anyone really know whom they are talking to unless they know the person personally? Common sense must be used at all times. The Internet can be very deceptive. A person needs to use extreme caution when giving out personal information to a person they are chatting to. Many people forget about the dangers of Internet chat. People can be too trusting. The people who use chat rooms and instant messengers sometimes... ...rsonal Interview. Pennsylvania. 26 April 2002. Dean, Katie. "The Epidemic of Cyberstalking." Wired News. May 1, 2000. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35728,00.html (April 24, 2002). Hartman, Rachel R. "Cyberstalking and Internet Safety FAQ." http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35728,00.htm (April 24, 2002). Magid, Lawrence J. "Teen Safety on the Information Highway." Safeteens.com. http://www.safekids.com/safeteens/safeteens.htm (April 24, 2002). Talton, Trista. "Internet Predators Subject of Meeting." Wilmington Star. August 23, 2001. http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/news/stories/3084newsstorypage.html (April 24, 2002). Tarbox, Katie. Oprah. Television Program. ABC, Chicago. 17 April 2002. Turkle, Sherry. "Who Am We?" Presence of Others. Ed. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Rusziewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 442-458.