On Virtual Socialization

If there is one indispensable part of life today, it's the internet. In this modern world, people cannot live the kind of life they are living without the benefit of web access. Considering that there is an omnipresent availability and access to the internet in homes, public places, and even schools, children and teens are increasingly hooked on it. Sharing of information among people throughout the world is now in the fingertips. With the advent of modern technology any individual has an access to worldwide communication.

The internet is now one of the leading medium in facilitating worldwide communication which provides a huge impact in the world of global information. With the development of the internet, worldwide information was being shared, from people to people. People where able to communicate and where able to share ideas, views, knowledge, and opinion with one another. Socialization, this is one we get from the internet. Meeting friend, different people different faces different personalities, it’s very amazing. Having friends throughout the world even though not formally is really amazing.

By way of social networking sites, chat, video communication, streaming, and other types of web correspondence, young people have never been this busy communicating and establishing relationships with other people. This is why Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are so popular nowadays. These sites offer the most convenient, friendly, and fun way of communicating with friends. This technology really facilitates a new and a modern way of socialization. Even though separated by miles or thousands of miles, even though with different races, even people don’t know each other personally, but still they make friends in the net.

The web is a ground-breaking tool for students. But when it comes to socialization and behavior, it may inflict negative consequences for them. While it is a good source of information and knowledge for children, it is also effective exposing children to various types of negative material such as violence, sex, profanity, and more.

The problem is social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc) isn't always about building online friendships and relationships. It is also the avenue where criminals such as sex offenders look and search for their potential victims. So if your children use the internet as their main tool for socialization, they might be more vulnerable to different kinds of online crimes like sexual abuse and exploitation, cyber bullying, and pornography. Aside from the imminent danger of abuse and exploitation, the internet is also largely responsible for shaping the behavior of young people, especially on how they respond to their environment and how they socialize and relate to other people.

Parents and educators are facing great risks as long as they allow their children to access the web without control and proper monitoring. In the end, the effects may not only be limited to how they socialize and behave in real life, it may also include dangers of sexual abuse, molestation, or exploitation.