Andrea Monserrat Cabrera Beltrán

A01274417

Social media and children

Social networks are a set of platforms that are used to stay connected with people
around the world. However, these networks are not for everyone because there are people that
are more vulnerable than others: children. Currently, one out of every three internet users
around the world is a child. Have you thought about how dangerous social networks can be?
When children use the internet incorrectly, it is more probable that they can be exposed to
dangers such as the improper use of private information, access to harmful content,
extortions, and kidnappings.
Often referred to as ‘sextortion’, the online coercion and extortion of children a form
of digital blackmail where sexual information or images are used to extort. Based on
Europol’s report reveals that female child victims are being blackmailed more significantly
for sexually explicit material (84%) compared to men (53%).
Digital kidnapping is real. People “stealing” children from social media are being
used for sick obsessions. We need to step back and seriously analyze the information we are
sharing with the world, specially about kids. If it appears innocent to post photos and
information, predators and identity thieves love the amount of information we are giving
them.
In conclusion, I think that kids shouldn't have any social media because they are more
exposed. However, for children that use social networks there are campaigns to prevent
extortion and kidnapping. If there is a problem, we must look for help, stop the
communication, block the person, and reports it to the police. Don't shut up.

Bibliography
De Vicente, B. (2017). 1 de cada 3 usuarios de internet son niños. Of UNICEF. Retrieved
from https://www.unicef.es/prensa/1-de-cada-3-usuarios-de-internet-son-ninos
Wijnen, P. (2017). Online coercion and extortion of children. Of Norway Today. Retrieved
from http://norwaytoday.info/news/online-coercion-extortion-children/ Williams, A. (2018).
Digital kidnapping: your kids and social media privacy. Of Protect Young Eyes. Retrieved
from ​https://protectyoungeyes.com/digital-kidnapping-your-kids-and-social​-
media-privacy/