The document summarizes a literature review on protecting children online without limiting the benefits. It finds that while the internet has advantages for identity development and skills, children lack guidance on safe and responsible use. Schools should teach net etiquette to help children process online experiences, as open communication between children and adults is important. More research is still needed on practical solutions to address the knowledge gap and protect children from online dangers.

1. Communication Studies
Student: Luc van Dijk | AeronAdvies
Date: 03/2012
University of Twente

2. Literature review on protecting children on internet
How can this be achieved without losing the benefits?
Abstract
Internet is a relatively new concept in the world. Where parents and teachers have to teach
themselves what it is and what they can do with it, the younger generation is ‘born’ online.
Their secret: learning by doing. This article considers the positive and negative aspects of
internet use with a particular focus on children and social media. Furthermore it describes
how children can be protected against the negative aspects of internet use but also can use the
positive aspects of it. It turns out that schools should help children to develop appropriate
etiquette for the online world. According to the literature this can be done by giving lessons
how to approach social media, not only at school but also at home. Schools may always give
space for positive points of social media such as creativity, leadership development, self-
presentation, creation of ideas and identity development.
1. Introduction Besides the disadvantage of internet use, the
Numerous articles are written about the new sort of media also has a great advantage
significant differences in use of technological for children. New media can support children
resources between generations. The older with identity creation (Cleemput, 2008;
generation has taught themselves to use Gross, 2004). For example, it offers children
computers, while children in the current the opportunity to try different identities and
society have grown up with this medium choose one that fits best (Li, 2007).
(Genuis & Genuis, 2005; King, Walpole, & Moreover internet use teaches them to be
Lamon, 2007). As a consequence of this creative and develop good communication
behavior there is a knowledge gap between skills. Furthermore, it helps them to establish
children and their parents. Children are very their leadership (Green & Hammon, 2007;
capable of working with the computer Sharples, et al., 2009).
compared to their parents (King, Walpole &
Lamon, 2007). But Delfos (2011) stated that Delfos (2011) state that children should be
children need adults too, to help them guided by their online experiences, because
process their online experiences. So it seems children cannot process their online
that the generations need each other. experiences on their own. Sharples, et al.
(2009) agree with this statement and add that
There are positive and negative aspects for children need to learn net etiquette.
children by using the internet. One of the Panagiotes, Anastasiades, and Vitalaki
problems is cyber bullying. The lack of (2011) also find that children need to be
knowledge of new media by parents prevents taught how to use internet safely. Both
a support of their children when they are Sharples, et al. (2009) and Anastasiades and
cyber bullied (Li, 2007). Furthermore there Vitalaki (2011) stated that the school should
are more problems. Total freedom in internet be responsible to teach the children how to
use by children can have negative deal with internet use.
consequences, children do not oversee the
results of their behavior and have – because This literature review provides insights in
of the lack of information from their parents internet use of children with its advantages
– not learnt to use net etiquette (Sharples, and disadvantages. Furthermore it provides
Graber, Harrison, & Logan, 2009). viewpoints how children can be protected
against the dangers of internet use, but also
stimulated to use internet because of the
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3. advantages of internet. A particular focus is in the offline world. In short: being friends
chosen for the role of the school. with those who are friends in the real world.
Nevertheless, other researchers find
2. Internet use and children something else. A part of the children feels
The newest generation lives online (Genuis better online than offline. This is because
& Genuis, 2005). According to King, they can express themselves better in the
Walpole, & Lamon (2007) 89% of the online world (King, Walpole, & Lamon,
children have home internet acces. In 2007). Besides, children experience
comparison Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts anonymity online (Aricak et al., 2008).
(2010) are saying that 84% of the children Owing to this children think they can do
are using social media at home. 33% even whatever they want to do (Genuis & Genuis,
have internet in their own room. Table 1 2005). Furthermore some children experience
illustrates the changes over time, stemming themselves as invisible and anonymous when
from this research: they are online. As a result some of them try
different identities (Slonje & Smith, 2008).
Because they have no supervisors, there are
no limits or boundaries, furthermore there are
no rules (Mason, 2008).
3. Benefits of internet use by children
Social media can help children with identity
development. As an example children learn
abilities such as creativity, self-presentation,
leadership and the development of ideas
(Green & Hammon, 2007; Sharples et al.,
2009). Actually they can train these skills by
presenting as themselves and presenting
himself like another person. The last point
Table 1 Home internet access, over time
can be positive for answering the questions:
(Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010)
who am I? What can I be? These are the
main questions of the adolescence phase of
identity development (Harder, 2009).
Children use internet mainly to present
themselves to the outside world. Half of the Whether a child is presenting as himself
children are logging in a couple of times a online or just as another person, in both cases
day to change their own profile on social they have to think about how the person in
network sites or look at profiles of others question should react. As a matter of fact the
(Cleemput, 2008). They are using internet child sees how other people react (or not) to
private, outside the sight of their parents. the online personage. Consequently the child
Most of the time they chat with (offline) can learn how to react in certain situations
friends about friends and gossip. Also a small and what kind of identity he wants to create
group of children is gaming (Gross, 2004). in real life (Sharples et al., 2009).
According to Cleemput (2008) children find
that the online identity should fit the offline This statement is conducted by Collin,
identity. This means that a person should Rahilly, Richardson and Third (2011). They
behave quite the same online as offline. state in their article that internet use can be a
Gross (2004) additionally finds that children way to experience with different identities,
want to connect online with those they know without the regulations of their parents. Also
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4. Mason (2008) found that new media can be a intentions. Because of misinterpretation the
place to draw-down or otherwise behave as other child is upset and as a concequence the
another person than themselves. On the misunderstanding continues in the offline
whole children can build a certain identity, world.
compare it with peers and develop an own
identity (Colin et al., 2011). Some children Another disadvantage according to Duimel
who are bullied in real life see internet as the (2009) is that children can steal the username
place to be respected (King, Walpole & and password from each other, basically
Lamon, 2007). Summarizing being online is stealing an online identity. As a result a
a good way for identity development person can send messages from the profile of
(Cleemput, 2008; Gross, 2004). another child. Obviously the posted reactions
with a stolen profile are not always that well
educated. Moreover it causes more damage
For learning language skills it does not because the private information, protected by
matter whether or not children use a lot of the password, is not private anymore.
social media. Nevertheless, it is not a
disadvantage either (Radstake, 2010). Also children can create fake accounts by
pretending to be a real person, for example a
classmate (Duimel, 2009). By ‘stealing’
4. Disadvantages of internet use by someone’sidentity, other children can think
children this person is a real friend of them and add
It is good for children to be online, on the the person to their network. Nevertheless it is
other hand it has to be controlled (Sharples et a fake account, so the messages coming from
al., 2009). As an example children are getting this ‘person’ are not real.
no instructions about safe and responsible
use of the internet at this moment. Unfriending – not being an online friend
Furthermore there is no supervision (Genuis anymore with somebody – can hurt a child
& Genuis, 2005). As a consequence children deeply (Duimel, 2009). In real life people
do not always know what they are doing normally can end a relationship when they do
online and what the impact is of what they not speak to each other anymore. However
are doing. It is possible that a child is cyber online someone is a friend or is not a friend.
bullying another child, but the child is not It might happen when some child is ‘cleaning
aware of the bullying behavior. When given up’ his or her account he will delete some
awareness of this behavior, most of the time ‘friends’. This can be cruel for the child who
a child will stop bullying (Li, 2007). is being unfriended. The younger they are,
the more difficult it normally is for a child
According to Duimel (2009) there are more (Duimel, 2009).
disadvantages. In the first place online
communication can result in As a whole, the problem is that this kind of
misunderstandings. Children communicate disadvantages take place outside the sight of
with each other online but they normally do the parents or teachers. As follows it is
not see or hear the other person. difficult for parents to control their children
Consequently, children say something while (Genuis & Genuis, 2005; King, Walpole, &
they mean something else and are not always Lamon, 2007).
aware of this situation.
Additionally, Aricak et al. (2008) also found 5. Guidance
that statements made online can cause To summarize, internet use has a lot of
problems in the real word. To illustrate: a advantages for children, not in the last place
child says something online and has no bad to help with identity development. On the
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5. other hand it has also a lot of disadvantages. internet. “Among students, 41% do not share
When children are playing on a playground, where they go or what they do on the Internet
they are in sight of their parents or teachers. with their parents and 26% of students
Online there is not (always) a supervisor. To believe their parents would at least “be
go more in-depth about this issue the concerned” if their parents knew what they
following sub question is researched: How did on the Internet.” (p. S67).
are children being guarded by parents or
teachers in social media? Scharples et al. (2009) state that children
need help with their internet use. This can be
Because children know better the way online, done by teaching children to develop
it is difficult for parents to check their appropriate etiquette and teach them to know
children (King, Walpole, & Lamon, 2007; when social networking becomes risky and
Genuis & Genuis, 2005). As a result parents unacceptable. “Most of all, schools,
often are not aware of what their children are supported by agencies including Becta, need
doing online. Actually parents learn to use to develop an approach to the social Internet
the computer and social media from their that complements home use while developing
children (Genuis & Genuis, 2005). On the a distinctive educational space for creativity,
other hand a child needs to speak with adults community and personal learning” (p. 79).
about their online experiences (Delfos,
2011). This is because they can experience In short Slonje & Smith (2008) say children
situations with are unclear or unknown for a who are being bullied online will not tell
child, just as in real life, and need some adult their teachers and very few tell it to their
support. parents. Where Delfos (2011) finds that
adults should talk to – their – children to
A problem hereby is that there is too little protect them against dangerous aspects of
awareness of professionals and parents about internet use.
for instance cyber bullying (Li, 2007). As an
example most school professionals are not Kuter-Luks, Heuvelman and Peters (2011)
aware of this online problem. And when they state that schools should help children with
are, they do not know how to deal with the their internet use. Not to provide technical
problem (Mason, 2008). Moreover Slonje & eductation, because children are better in this
Smith (2008) make clear that parents think than adults, but to provide skills to deal with
they are aware of what the child is doing the medium. What they want is that schools
online and would notice if the child is bullied provide programs to increase the critical
online. Although from their research comes attitude of children towards internet (Kuter-
that parents are less aware of cyber bullying Luks, Heuvelman & Peters, 2011). Scharples,
compared to traditional bullying. As a result Graber, Harrison en Logan (2009) also find
this can lead to children who will not report that schools should learn children net-
bullying behavior from others to their etiquette.
parents. Likewise they will not tell it to their
teachers, because the person in question
knows too little about the subject. 6. Conclusion, discussion and directions
Consequently this frustrates the positive for future research
effects of internet use. Nonetheless, for 90 At this moment parents as well as teachers
percent of all parents it is important that their
child learn good internet use skills (Sharples know too little about the online world to
et al., 2009). In addition King, Walpole & support children. In the eyes of children it is
Lamon (2007) give the following interesting a problem that they know too little. As a
information. From a survey comes that many result they will not tell it to their parents and
students experience no rules for using
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6. teachers what they are doing online. Even The topic of the literature review is
when they are bullied. continuous changing. Therefore it is possible
that some information from used articles or
It turns out that internet has great advantages books is outdated.
and disadvantages for children. As a positive
example children can stay in touch with those
they know from school and the playground.
Furthermore they learn the skills of self-
presentation, creativity, leadership, the
development of ideas and it is positive for
identity development. To illustrate the
disadvantages: because there is almost no
control from parents or teachers they can put
too much information online, not only can
they contact the wrong people but they can
also start bullying online or even being
bullied.
This research gives thus insight in the
advantages and disadvantages of internet use
for children and it gives a solution to protect
children against the danger of internet use
namely through have open conversations as
adults with children (Delfos, 2011) and with
special school programs (Kuter-Luks,
Heuvelman & Peters, 2011). It is stated that
schools should provide lessons for internet
use etiquettes. So a theoretical solution for
the actual problem is given.
Nevertheless, how the problem practically
can be solved, is not known. Additionally
how to resolve the problem of the knowledge
gap between parents, teachers and children is
also not totally clear. One clear advise for
adults and children is to talk to each other
about the topic, but it is unclear what the
school lessons in practice should look like.
In order to give an answer to these open
questions more research is needed on how to
practically provide children with protection
against the danger of internet use without
losing the benefits of it such as identity
development.
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