In contemporary society, virtual interactions blend with those of physical space. As a result, we increasingly depend on technology and internet use for education, entertainment and connecting with others; however, not everyone has the skills, aptitudes and judgment necessary to stay safe online—least of all children and adolescents, who tend to explore the digital world more unwarily and spend a large part of their time connected online, often without the accompaniment of parents, caregivers or teachers.
In this context, the possibility of harm that this age group may suffer while browsing the internet is considered a risk, given their vulnerability—related to a lack of maturity, information, and guidance—and the presence of a threat, such as, among others, content risks from exposure to inappropriate material, interaction with unknown and dangerous individuals, conduct risks from risky behavior by the minors themselves, and risks of addiction associated with problems of use and safety (Cano et al., 2020).
Therefore, children and adolescents constitute a group of special risk due to their stage of development. According to UNICEF (2017), information and communication technologies have expanded the dangers to which children and young people around the world have traditionally been exposed, because browsing the internet uncritically is risky—but this can be mitigated. The key lies in supervision, education, and raising minors’ awareness of the dangers.
Would you like to contribute? We invite you to reflect on the risks associated with internet use among children and adolescents and to join efforts to help build a safer internet.
Cano-Vásquez, L. M., Rodríguez-Velásquez, M., Betancur-Agudelo, L., and Gómez-Santamaría, C. (2021). Diagnosis of risks associated with internet use in children: a path toward prevention through transmedia narratives. Editorial Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. http://doi.org/10.18566/978-958-764-934-5
UNICEF. (2017). The State of the World’s Children 2017. Children in a Digital World. https://www.unicef.org/media/48611/file
