The problem of child safety in the digital space
Keywords:
digital space, Internet, child, social media, social network, survey.
Abstract
The rapid development of digital technologies has transformed the lives of children and young people. The digital space offers children endless opportunities to learn, play, communicate and express themselves. However, it also poses a number of risks and threats, such as cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to harmful content. The purpose of this article is to analyze the current state of the criminological safety of a child in the digital space based on a survey among Ukrainian schoolchildren aged 11-17. Our task is to determine the level of awareness of teenagers about safe behavior on the Internet, as well as to identify the most common threats and assess the level of risky behavior of Ukrainian children on the Internet. The article emphasizes that the range of threats to underage Internet users is much wider than to adults due to the peculiarities of this age group. Empirical research shows that schoolchildren tend to act rather carelessly in the digital space, particularly in regards to making new contacts and communicating online. We believe that the family and the school should play the dominant role in familiarizing children with existing online threats and the fundamentals of safe behavior in the digital space.
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References
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Maximum (2017). How long should adolescents sit in front of a computer. Recovered from http://surl.li/ijbra
Milosevic, T., Kuldas, S., Sargioti, A., Laffan, D.A., & Norman, J.O. (2022). Children's Internet Use, Self-Reported Life Satisfaction, and Parental Mediation in Europe: An Analysis of the EU Kids Online Dataset. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.698176
Miroshnikova, A. (2023). The more time spent on social media, the greater the risk of depression in adolescents: study results. Osvitoria. http://surl.li/ibzgf
Naidyonova, L. (2012). Aggressive cyberspace or aggressive users? – psychological principles for overcoming cyberbullying. Psychological perspectives. Special issue «Problems of cyber aggression», 2, 83-92. [In Ukranian]
Nain, H., & Chaudhary, M. (2022). Internet Usage by Young Kids in India. Fwu Journal of Social Sciences, 16(3), 120-131. DOI 10.51709/19951272/Fall2022/9
Núñez-Gómez, P., Larranaga, K.P., Rangel, C., & Ortega-Mohedano, F. (2021). Critical Analysis of the Risks in the Use of the Internet and Social Networks in Childhood and Adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683384
Park, S., Hong, K.E., Park, E.J., Ha, K.S., Yoo, H.J. (2013). The association between problematic internet use and depression, suicidal ideation and bipolar disorder symptoms in Korean adolescents. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 47(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867412463613
Pazyuk, A., & Chernykh, O. (2016). Children online: how to ensure safety and privacy (analytical study). K: Vaite, 74. [In Ukranian]
Phillips, J. G., Diesfeld, K., & Mann, L. (2019). Instances of online suicide, the law and potential solutions. Psychiatr Psychol Law, 26(3), pp. 423-440. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6762158/
Ponte, C. (2019). Challenging online situations reported by Italian and Portuguese children in 2018. Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación, 10(2), DOI: 10.14198/MEDCOM2019.10.2.3
Popadić, D., Pavlović, Z., & Kuzmanović, D. (2020) Intensive and excessive Internet use: Different predictors operating among adolescents. Psychology, 53(3), 273-290.
https://doi.org/10.2298/PSI190805003P
Rodriguez, C.L., Garcia, S.C., & Ventisca, M.D. (2021). Children's sexualization on the Internet: kids' perceptions of digital images. Revista iIcono 14. Revista Cientifica De Comunicacion y Tecnologias, 19(2), 339-363. https://doi.org/10.7195/ri14.v19i2.1563
Sherman, L., Payton, A., & Dapretto, M. (2016). The Power of the Like in Adolescence: Effects of Peer Influence on Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Media. Psychological Science, 27(7), 1027-1035. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616645673
Shugailo, Y. (2015). Internet addiction and the problem of its prevention among children and adolescents. Bulletin of the Zaporizhzhia National University. Pedagogical sciences. Zaporizhzhia, 2, 17-24. [In Ukranian]
Snitko, M. (2014). Social-Pedagogical Conditions of Formation of Teenagers’ Safe Behavior on the Internet (dissertation ….. Candidate of Pedagogics), Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, Ukraine. (In Ukranian)
Sokurenko, V., Shvets, D., Fedorenko, O., Miloradova, N., Dotsenko, V., Buhaichuk, K., Hnusov, Yu., Rvachov, O. (2021). Methodological recommendations for the formation of safe behavior of children on social networks. Kharkiv: Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, KhNUVS, 60. http://surl.li/llqwj
Udalova, O., Shved, O., Yevsyukova, M., Kuznetsova, O., & Kolesnikova, S. (2010). Safe use of modern information and communication technologies: methodological recommendations. Kyiv. Ukraine: Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 72, http://surl.li/nhvpz
Astorri, E., Clerici, G., Gallo, G., Raina, P., & Pellai, A. (2023). Online extreme challenges putting children at risk: what we know to date. Minerva Pediatr (Torino), 75(1), 98-109. Doi: 10.23736/S2724-5276.22.06892-6
Batyrgareyeva, V. (2019). Suicides of children and adolescents in Ukraine: the influence of the Internet. Issues related to combating crime, 37, 35-46. [In Ukranian]
Birbal, R., Maharajh, H., Birbal, R., Clapperton, M., Jarvis, J., Ragoonath, A., & Uppalapati, K. (2009). Cybersuicide and the adolescent population: challenges of the future? International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health., 21(2), 151-159. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19702194/
Burov, O., Grybyuk, O., Dementiyevska, N., Slobodyanyk, O., Ukhan, P., Barladym, V., Kovalenko, V., Yaskova, N., & Pinchuk, O. (2018). The use of electronic social networks as tools for forming the information and education learning environment of high school students: methodological recommendations. Institute of Information Technologies and Teaching Aids of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. Kyiv: Pedagogical Thought, 32. Recovered from http://surl.li/llqwy
Chu, J., Ganson, K.T., Baker, F.C., Testa, A., Jackson, D.B., Murray, S.B., & Nagata, J.M. (2023). Screen time and suicidal behaviors among U.S. children 9 -11 years old: A prospective cohort study. Prev Med., 169, 107452. Doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107452
Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P., Sahdra, B., Marshall, S., Jackson, C., Gloster, A.T., & Heaven, P. (2016). The development of compulsive internet use and mental health: A four-year study of adolescence. Developmental psychology, 52(2), 272-283. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000070
Dewan, A. (2022). Worried about your child's cybersecurity? Here are the top 5 online dangers facing children. ParentCircle. https://www.parentcircle.com/internet-online-dangers-for-children/article
Dunlop, S.M., More, E., & Romer, D. (2011). Where do youth learn about suicides on the Internet, and what influence does this have on suicidal ideation? J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 52(10), 1073-1080. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21658185/
Filonenko, V., Kasilova, A., & Dyakova, A. (2022). Online threats during wartime: how to protect yourself? A lesson for grades 1-4 on safe conduct in the digital environment in times of war. ChildFund Corea, 21. http://surl.li/hiiah
Frank, F., Frank, J., Honzík, L., & Jakeš, T. (2019). Safety of Czech elementary school pupils on the Internet. In ICERI2019 Proceedings (pp. 4819-4825). IATED. Doi: 10.21125/iceri.2019.1182
Internet Watch Foundation (2023). News 25 Apr. ‘Extreme’ Category A child sexual abuse found online doubles in two years. http://surl.li/ihzep
Internet World Stats (2023). World Internet Users and 2023 Population Stats. https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
Ionan, V. (2020, February 4). Every 5 minutes a child is subjected to sexual violence on the Internet. How to put a stop to this. Ukrainian Pravda. https://life.pravda.com.ua/columns/2020/02/4/239800/
Ionan, V. (2020, February 10). Serials and hub libraries. How the Ministry of Digital Transformation will be improving Ukrainians’ digital skills. NV Business. http://surl.li/gvdew
Kiselyova, K. (2023). Screen time: how many hours your kids spend sitting in front of a screen every day and what to do about it?. Osvitoria. http://surl.li/gilvm
Kobzar, A. (2019). What parents should know before their child starts using social networks. Green Country. http://surl.li/iiyzx
Kovalevska, Y., & Gribanova, A. (2022). "In the death group, I had support." Why teenagers decide to commit suicide. BBC News Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-59779596
Lee, S., & Kwon, Y. (2018). Twitter as a place where people meet to make suicide pacts. Public Health, 159, 21-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.03.001
Livingstone, S., & Haddon, L. (2009). Kids online: opportunities and risks for children. Bristol, UK: The Policy Press, 1-6. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/30130/1/Kids_online_introduction_(LSERO).pdf
Lukić, D. (2022). Cybersecurity for Kids: 5 Practical Ways to Explain It. MentalUP. http://surl.li/elasw
Lytovchenko, I. (2010). Children on the Internet: how to teach safety in the virtual world [a guide for parents]. K: Publishing House Avanpost-Prym, 48. [In Ukranian]
Maximum (2017). How long should adolescents sit in front of a computer. Recovered from http://surl.li/ijbra
Milosevic, T., Kuldas, S., Sargioti, A., Laffan, D.A., & Norman, J.O. (2022). Children's Internet Use, Self-Reported Life Satisfaction, and Parental Mediation in Europe: An Analysis of the EU Kids Online Dataset. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.698176
Miroshnikova, A. (2023). The more time spent on social media, the greater the risk of depression in adolescents: study results. Osvitoria. http://surl.li/ibzgf
Naidyonova, L. (2012). Aggressive cyberspace or aggressive users? – psychological principles for overcoming cyberbullying. Psychological perspectives. Special issue «Problems of cyber aggression», 2, 83-92. [In Ukranian]
Nain, H., & Chaudhary, M. (2022). Internet Usage by Young Kids in India. Fwu Journal of Social Sciences, 16(3), 120-131. DOI 10.51709/19951272/Fall2022/9
Núñez-Gómez, P., Larranaga, K.P., Rangel, C., & Ortega-Mohedano, F. (2021). Critical Analysis of the Risks in the Use of the Internet and Social Networks in Childhood and Adolescence. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683384
Park, S., Hong, K.E., Park, E.J., Ha, K.S., Yoo, H.J. (2013). The association between problematic internet use and depression, suicidal ideation and bipolar disorder symptoms in Korean adolescents. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 47(2), 153-159. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867412463613
Pazyuk, A., & Chernykh, O. (2016). Children online: how to ensure safety and privacy (analytical study). K: Vaite, 74. [In Ukranian]
Phillips, J. G., Diesfeld, K., & Mann, L. (2019). Instances of online suicide, the law and potential solutions. Psychiatr Psychol Law, 26(3), pp. 423-440. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6762158/
Ponte, C. (2019). Challenging online situations reported by Italian and Portuguese children in 2018. Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación, 10(2), DOI: 10.14198/MEDCOM2019.10.2.3
Popadić, D., Pavlović, Z., & Kuzmanović, D. (2020) Intensive and excessive Internet use: Different predictors operating among adolescents. Psychology, 53(3), 273-290.
https://doi.org/10.2298/PSI190805003P
Rodriguez, C.L., Garcia, S.C., & Ventisca, M.D. (2021). Children's sexualization on the Internet: kids' perceptions of digital images. Revista iIcono 14. Revista Cientifica De Comunicacion y Tecnologias, 19(2), 339-363. https://doi.org/10.7195/ri14.v19i2.1563
Sherman, L., Payton, A., & Dapretto, M. (2016). The Power of the Like in Adolescence: Effects of Peer Influence on Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Media. Psychological Science, 27(7), 1027-1035. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616645673
Shugailo, Y. (2015). Internet addiction and the problem of its prevention among children and adolescents. Bulletin of the Zaporizhzhia National University. Pedagogical sciences. Zaporizhzhia, 2, 17-24. [In Ukranian]
Snitko, M. (2014). Social-Pedagogical Conditions of Formation of Teenagers’ Safe Behavior on the Internet (dissertation ….. Candidate of Pedagogics), Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, Ukraine. (In Ukranian)
Sokurenko, V., Shvets, D., Fedorenko, O., Miloradova, N., Dotsenko, V., Buhaichuk, K., Hnusov, Yu., Rvachov, O. (2021). Methodological recommendations for the formation of safe behavior of children on social networks. Kharkiv: Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, KhNUVS, 60. http://surl.li/llqwj
Udalova, O., Shved, O., Yevsyukova, M., Kuznetsova, O., & Kolesnikova, S. (2010). Safe use of modern information and communication technologies: methodological recommendations. Kyiv. Ukraine: Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 72, http://surl.li/nhvpz
Published
2023-09-30
How to Cite
Lubenets, I., Kulyk, O., Kulakova, N., Lisnychenko, L., & Naumova, I. (2023). The problem of child safety in the digital space. Amazonia Investiga, 12(69), 281-290. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2023.69.09.25
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Copyright (c) 2023 Amazonia Investiga
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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