The Dangers Of Instant The Dangers Of Instant Messaging And Social Messaging And Social

NetworkingNetworking

By Steven HayesBy Steven Hayes

What Is Instant MessagingWhat Is Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is a conversation like Instant messaging is a conversation like e-mail but a lot quickere-mail but a lot quicker

Text is sent and received extremely fastText is sent and received extremely fast

This enables the users to chat to each This enables the users to chat to each other as if they were talking in personother as if they were talking in person

Instant Messaging StatisticsInstant Messaging Statistics

In 2007 over 170 In 2007 over 170 million people used million people used MSN.MSN.

55 Million of which 55 Million of which were from the UK were from the UK alone.alone. 0

50

100

150

200

250

2006 2007 2008 2009

12--19

20-39

40+

Dangers of instant messaging Dangers of instant messaging

14.28% of children age 14.28% of children age 10-17 have been solicited 10-17 have been solicited sexually online, that's 1 sexually online, that's 1 out of every 7 kids! out of every 7 kids!

When they were When they were contacted online by a contacted online by a complete stranger, just complete stranger, just 3% of online teens said 3% of online teens said they told and adult or they told and adult or authority figure. authority figure.

What Are Social Networking SitesWhat Are Social Networking Sites

A social network service focuses on A social network service focuses on building and reflecting social network or building and reflecting social network or social relationship among people, e.g., social relationship among people, e.g., who share interests and/or activities. who share interests and/or activities.

Most social networking sites now have Most social networking sites now have features of instant messengers also.features of instant messengers also.

Social Networking Sites StatisticsSocial Networking Sites Statistics

61% of 13-17 yr olds 61% of 13-17 yr olds have a personal have a personal profile on social profile on social networking sites. networking sites.

321.1 million people 321.1 million people have Facebook have Facebook profiles.profiles.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27340884@N07/2551643236/sizes/o

Dangers Of Social Networking Dangers Of Social Networking SitesSites

Anybody can make a personal profile and Anybody can make a personal profile and use fake images on these sites.use fake images on these sites.

From 2007-2009 MySpace has deleted From 2007-2009 MySpace has deleted 90,000 accounts because they were 90,000 accounts because they were created by registered sex offenders. created by registered sex offenders.

What parents can do…What parents can do…

Parents can monitor their child’s activities Parents can monitor their child’s activities on the web to make sure they are safe.on the web to make sure they are safe.

Teach them to tell parents when they Teach them to tell parents when they have been contacted by strangershave been contacted by strangers

Last WordsLast Words

The internet is a dangerous place for The internet is a dangerous place for children surfing on their own.children surfing on their own.

And remember on the internet anyone can And remember on the internet anyone can be who they want to be…be who they want to be…