The Cutting Edge: Computing / Technology / Innovation : On-Line Neighborhoods You Might Want to Avoid
I love to stroll around in major cities, but I wouldn’t dream of venturing out at night without knowing which areas to avoid. I never get in a car without buckling up. My wife and I encourage our young children to read books and watch an occasional TV show, but we make sure the material is appropriate. Life is risky, but prudence beats paranoia any day.
The same is true when it comes to using the Internet or on-line services such as Prodigy, America Online or CompuServe. They offer a trove of valuable information and services for adults and kids, but there are some danger spots.
Newsweek recently profiled a pedophile who used an on-line service to lure children whom he later sexually molested. A recent episode of CBS’ “Eye to Eye with Connie Chung” focused on a stalker who used an on-line service to send harassing and threatening electronic mail and bulletin board messages to people he met on-line.
Should these stories dissuade you from exploring on “the Net”? Of course not.
When it comes to harassment and danger, on-line services are no different than the post office, the phone company or the local shopping mall. Each of these institutions does what it can to protect its customers, but none can guarantee safety and comfort. Nevertheless, most people continue to open their mail, answer their phone and shop--for the most part safely.
Crank or obscene e-mail is especially hard to control. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 requires public e-mail and on-line services to protect the privacy of the sender and receiver. As a result, there is no way for the service to routinely screen the content of a message, any more than the phone company or postal service can screen incoming mail or calls.
Messages posted on on-line bulletin boards or forums and Internet “newsgroups” are not private--they can be read by anyone who has access to the network. If they’re inappropriate, they can be deleted by the service’s system operator, or “sysop,” who is responsible for maintaining the forum.
If you get a harassing, threatening or obscene e-mail message, you can forward a copy to your service provider, who can take action, including removing the sender from the service or, if appropriate, contacting law enforcement officials. Because virtually all public e-mail systems are linked via the Internet, it’s possible for the message to originate from another service, possibly even from overseas. Your service provider can help you track down the source of the message, but there’s no guarantee the culprit will be found.
You may be able to prevent someone from striking twice. Some services and software packages have what are commonly referred to as “bozo filters,” which let you weed out mail or even public bulletin board messages from unwanted sources.
Exercise common sense when posting or responding to public notices on computer bulletin boards or forums. Unlike e-mail, your responses can be read by anyone with access to the service. Never give out your home address, and be very careful when it comes to personal or financial information. Consider using a pseudonym if your service allows it. Responding to messages that are sexually explicit or suggestive could tag you as a potential harassment victim. At the very least, anyone reading your response will know your e-mail address.
It’s not uncommon for people who meet on-line to arrange face-to-face meetings, sometimes resulting in friendships, business relationships or even marriage. But if you do arrange a meeting, make the first one in a public spot, such as a restaurant, where you feel safe.
Parents should never use a computer or an on-line service as an electronic baby sitter. Just because kids are on-line doesn’t mean they’re engaged in productive or appropriate behavior. Most Internet systems, for example, provide access to newsgroups (forums, really) that feature sexually explicit stories, graphics and even short video clips with virtually no limits on content.
The major commercial on-line services generally do not permit the posting of sexually explicit material. A few racy graphics or stories might get through. One exception is CompuServe’s Human Sexuality Forum, which includes erotic stories. Although it’s not foolproof, the forum does employ measures to screen out minors.
Regardless of what service you use, children should be warned never to give out personal information and to tell their parents if they encounter mail or messages that make them feel uncomfortable. They should never agree to a face-to-face meeting unless their parents are present. Don’t alarm your children, but do remind them that not everyone on-line is a good citizen.
Remind your children that people on-line are not always what they seem to be. A message from what appears to be a 12-year-old girl, for example, could really be from a 30-year-old man. Children should be especially careful in live interactive chat areas, and parents should be aware that even the commercial services carry frank discussions that might be inappropriate for some children. Some services allow parents to block access to areas that may be inappropriate for their children.
