The Dark Side of the Internet

Entry 6, 16th April 2010
Topic: The Dark side of the Internet

Throughout the years of the human evolution people have started to avoid speaking in reality amongst themselves, as they have become regular users of the World Wide Web Internet services. In the past people had to meet up in person in order to communicate, as there was no use of mobile phones and computers. Now people use online cameras and programs such as “Skype” to communicate with each other. When it actually comes to meeting in person people tend to be more shy or nervous and this is because people have begun to become a lot more antisocial than before spending time behind their house walls on the computer playing games or using communication through the internet which has wrecked their personal character.

Article 1
Antisocial Behaviour
USA/Worldwide
http://people.hamilton.edu/bhouse/DoWeEncourage/DoWeEncourage5.html

People have been using computers worldwide more than anything, the use of post-mail, as well as telephones have been left out during this decade a lot. The constant use of computers has now been diagnosed as being a sort of disorder with socializing as well as psychological. “The character symptoms are a lack of safety for one's self, incapacity to feel guilt or shame, irresponsibility of social norms, disregard for rules, and a lack of concern for the feelings of others (www.mentalhealth.com).” As people don’t need to leave their homes in order to go ‘shopping’ they can use credit cards to buy almost anything online, they can have jobs and meet new people to create relationships so that means more usage of the computer constantly which leads to the addiction/disorder. A person that uses the net constantly is becoming more and more isolated to humanity as he uses this machine to do ‘what he wants’ in a non-real way. All around the world children and even adults that play video games also fall into the ‘isolated’ trap of spending ‘alone time.’ Their bodies get used to constant isolation and they start becoming aggressive, moody, anarchy-like disobeying rules and when it comes to socializing they lack confidence.
People should try and balance themselves out and use the internet when mostly needed or else it is most likely to fall in this trap and it is destroying our culture and youth.


Article 2
Is Facebook damaging your brain?
Global
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLopkYX5B54&feature=related

“Primary socializing virtually.” People develop virtual friendships online, talk through their problems online and ‘talk’ without interaction. Many people have fallen in the traps of this 2 dimensional program and loose their true personality. In this interview the woman is saying that she has 10 real friends whom she ‘hangs out with’ and talks through her issues, borrows money and spends time with. She comments on people that think they have ‘900 friends’ to talk and say hi to only and how it is not the same thing. This generation has a shorter attention span that people in previous decades as their mind is triggered to this ‘addiction’ and they begin to refer to normal life situations as ‘pointless.’ People have developed these autisms, social disorders, confidence issues as their mind adapts to being confident ‘online’ and not in reality so when it comes to face to face conversations not much is said.
Instead of people going out drinking, partying, working, rock and rolling, people spend time in front of a screen! Behind the walls of their houses currently ‘zombified’


Article 3
Rape cases and credit card accounts
USA and Australia –ABC News
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9DMTQLG0&show_article=1
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/27/2857926.htm

In these 2 articles we see the real life based issues relating to the Internet that do not have to do with personality changes and game addictions. People are out there on the Internet, that steal and commit rape. In this case a young woman was raped and almost murdered after being sexually abuses as well as cyber bullied. Pictures of her nude body were posted on the net with vital comments revolving around sex. A few days after her report in order for them to be removed she was raped and almost knifed in her living room by two people with a false identity in the ‘cyber world.’ It is very hard to track people online as they can easily make up a false identity. There have been thousands of child abuse/pedophile-related cases via internet and social networking sites such as ‘Windows Messenger,’ ‘IM,’ ‘Myspace’ and even children’s sites. In the 2nd article there has been a serious record of a case of credit card ‘hacks’ and the person that was caught was sentenced 20 years of prison for repeatedly hacking big companies with large amounts of money. Credit Card hacking is easy to do with the technology we have this day. It is very dangerous as it is very hard to catch cyber criminals as no details are shown to prove their acts.





Reflection & Analysis
This topic is one of the most overused topics in today’s society, as 9 out of 10 people own not only one but two computers in one household. Many young teenagers have dropped traditions and cultures because of constant use of the internet and computer programs. Our generation’s most powerful addiction; believe it or not. Thousands of teenagers are playing online games and develop antisocial disorders and confidence problems. Families are broken because of net spending time behind the walls of their offices or bedrooms. Traditions and celebrations are forgotten as people spend time on social networks and downloading sites. Real friends become less and less as people think their 1000 online friends are more important to spend time with and say hello to.
On the other hand when internet based issues are not related to confidence disorders they are related to reality. There are many sick minded people out there that try to get children’s attention pretending and lying about their ages, acting friendly and when it comes to meeting the children they are actual men that commit pedophilia. Young minds can fall into severe traps as they are easily persuaded and parents do not give them a lot of attention. Nowadays with the internet ANYONE can edit someone’s picture and turn it into a pornographic based topic. Cases of child abuse and rape have been reported from families and this is where youth culture personality is destroyed, as it will stay within the children with these experiences forever.
Be aware of your personal details on social networking sites such as facebook and what images you post of yourself, what details you allow people to see about you and your identity. Be aware of your children and what sites they surf, videos they stream and you yourself mind the details you give out when you order objects online. Never give out any passwords or fall into ‘stranger-related traps.’ ‘Cyber friends’ are not real friends! Remember you live once so live to the maximum of your ability. Basing your life on a screen will not give you your full enjoyment as there is so much out there! ☺