Peer pressure has been a part of humanity that dates back to organized society. we've tailored and tuned it up to a science since the 50's, but the concept is the same.
In order to fit in, you have to assimilate in some way to what has been defined as normal or slightly better than normal. Even the non conformists were defined by their refusal to conform to specific things in a certain uniform manner. Other than creating a larger number of smaller groups of peer pressure, It accomplished nothing.
That being said, quiet research on the latest facet of normality can be achieved by children w/o supervision.
The phrase "quiet research" can be understood as anything done with a search engine that nobody knows about. It could be as simple as understanding the new iphone that somebody at school is bragging about. It could also be as simple as getting up early to use the computer to find out what a gang bang is. The point is that "quiet research" is often key in finding out how to "fit in".
The phrase "latest facet of normality" is generic for the above reasons. Whatever they happen to be searching for, be it harmless or unsafe, they will find it and it will change on a daily basis. The most consistent aspect of "peer pressure" is that it will generally escalate before it fades away.
The moral of the story: Kids are driven to fit in. They are also able to explore every aspect (good and bad) of their peer pressures in private and without guidance.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Dangers: Unfettered Curiosity
Unfettered access to the internet can be problematic to users of all ages.
However, the curious nature of children creates an exponentially dangerous situation since they may be viewing something without a frame of reference present in adults.
We all know that children are exposed to things at school and on television. Some of this is harmless or assists in their development. However, some of this information is not age appropriate or even potentially risky and damaging. More to the point, we're no longer in a world where children need to ask their parents or teachers for clarification on this type of information.
In our online world, it's often easier and less embarrassing to simply type the curious phrase into a search engine and let the non discerning machines provide the answers. Children will do this. This problem somewhat compounds when we realize that the age of sexual curiosity lowers while access to hardcore pornography has become insanely instant.
While it is not uncommon for those under 13 to have intimate knowledge of oral sex, it's unfortunate that their initial curiosity can be handled by a search engine taking them to a porn movie designed for adults that are desensitized to regular sexual activity.
The old movies from health class are significantly different than the movies filmed to target the 40yr old online gamers that don't have healthy sexual relationships with an unpaid partner.
Sexual curiosity is just an obvious example. There are many other things that children will no longer have to ask about. It's as easy to learn how to build a birdhouse as it is to learn how to prepare a back back bomb. Information is not necessarily the problem. However, unfettered access to each and every curiosity might be.
As parents, we must find a way to inject ourselves into the process of seeking out information that may not be age appropriate. While we shouldn't necessarily hid our children under rocks, we should provide the safest learning and growing environment possible for their development.
However, the curious nature of children creates an exponentially dangerous situation since they may be viewing something without a frame of reference present in adults.
We all know that children are exposed to things at school and on television. Some of this is harmless or assists in their development. However, some of this information is not age appropriate or even potentially risky and damaging. More to the point, we're no longer in a world where children need to ask their parents or teachers for clarification on this type of information.
In our online world, it's often easier and less embarrassing to simply type the curious phrase into a search engine and let the non discerning machines provide the answers. Children will do this. This problem somewhat compounds when we realize that the age of sexual curiosity lowers while access to hardcore pornography has become insanely instant.
While it is not uncommon for those under 13 to have intimate knowledge of oral sex, it's unfortunate that their initial curiosity can be handled by a search engine taking them to a porn movie designed for adults that are desensitized to regular sexual activity.
The old movies from health class are significantly different than the movies filmed to target the 40yr old online gamers that don't have healthy sexual relationships with an unpaid partner.
Sexual curiosity is just an obvious example. There are many other things that children will no longer have to ask about. It's as easy to learn how to build a birdhouse as it is to learn how to prepare a back back bomb. Information is not necessarily the problem. However, unfettered access to each and every curiosity might be.
As parents, we must find a way to inject ourselves into the process of seeking out information that may not be age appropriate. While we shouldn't necessarily hid our children under rocks, we should provide the safest learning and growing environment possible for their development.
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