Safety and the Web

Pornography

Hate

Stalking

Pornography

Definitiono The explicit depiction or exhibition of sexual activity in

literature, films or photography that is intended to stimulate erotic, rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings.

Pornography

Statistics o 27.5 million US visitors (72% men) to porn sites

(Nielsen/NetRatings, 2002)o “sex” = most popular search term (Alexa Research, 2001)o 31% of kids 10-17 report having been to a porn site (NPR,

1999)o 40.2% of kids visiting porn sites are girls (NetValue, 2000)o 77% of convicted male child molesters and 87% of convocted

girl child molesters reported being regular users of hard core porn (Federal Department of Justice,Canada, 1984)

Pornography

Why do children visit porn sites?o Curiosityo Accidental contacto Availabilityo Social pressure

Hate

Definition:o any language, symbols or acts that makes and

individual or identifiable group feel threatened

Criminal code:o it is a crime to publicly incite hatred against identifiable

groups through words, gestures, signs or other visible representations

o it is a crime to advocate genocide – the deliberate attempt to destroy members of a particular group.

o Criteria = intention and commission

Hate

Statisticso > 373,000 hate Web sites (Websence, 2001)o Most common hate sites deal with racism, anti-

semitism, and homophobia (Media Awareness, 2003)o Hate sites use sophisticated persuasive techniques o Teens are primary target of hate sites (Lee, 2002)

Why is hate prevalent on the Web?

Cheap

Distributed

Target marginalized groups

Teaching kids safety on the Web

Are critical appraisal strategies enough?