Home » Internet and minors: the effect of the pandemic on teen safety

Internet and minors: the effect of the pandemic on teen safety

by admin

On the one hand, the pandemic has given the network back its role as a social glue – where the anti-pandemic regulations aimed at disintegration – on the other hand it has highlighted the cracks in the digital structure, especially for the youngest. There is talk of security and perception of the “sense of civilization” online, photographed as every year by the “Microsoft Digital Civility Index”. Globally, the web seems to be perceived as a more civilized and safer place than a year ago and this trend is also found in Italy, with an improvement of 2 points compared to last year (which places it in 12th place on 32 countries). However, if this improvement, in the world, is driven by young people, it is precisely here that we see a worsening of a point among adolescents, more exposed to online risks.

This was discussed during the event “The digital state of civilization: dangers and opportunities on the Net” signed by Microsoft Italia and Telefono Azzurro.

The data collected by the Postal Police trace in black and white the boundaries of what is anything but a sensation: “Between 2019 and 2020, complaints regarding child victimization increased by 76% – explained Nunzia Ciardi, Director of the Postal Police and Communications Service – and among the crimes, child pornography increased by 132% ”.

If it is true that the exposure has risen, it must also be said that the contrast action has done the same: the number of suspects has grown by 90%.

The dangers move with us and, if there was still the need, it is good to remember that there is no distinction between virtual life and non-virtual life: “There is a digital plot on which we all move continuously. We all live there, even those who think they are far away because they are not registered on social networks. Like all complex problems it needs complex solutions.
Private subjects as well as public ones are important ”explained Ciardi.

See also  A parliamentary intergroup against dementia - breaking latest news

Faced with the lowering of the age group of minors involved in online crimes – in 2018, 14 complaints for solicitation in the 0-9 age group, 26 complaints in 2019 and over 40 in 2020 – it is clear that the interlocutors of the problem are all , from institutions to individuals, from the police to families.

“It is obvious that we have more and more children online in a network that is not built in their image and likeness” commented Guido Scorza of the Privacy Guarantor, illustrating some points that must be immediately taken into consideration. First of all, to start considering the digital space as a large amusement park, where each attraction, as well as the physical parks we used to frequent, has its own norm and access criterion. We need a “legal design”, an ad hoc design that thinks about safety and protection, as well as that parents are the first to be aware of the dangers to which they expose children. In this regard, the lawyer warns against the phenomenon of baby influencers and more generally of the spasmodic publication of the contents of minors: “We proudly display the images without thinking that that person, as an adult, would rather have another approach to sharing , he will surely find it hard to take back what has been shared ”.

On good practices, also the managing director of Microsoft Italy, Silvia Candiani, invites reflection, first of all the parental control, integrated not only on devices and platforms, but also on X Box. According to the Digital Civility Index, 35% of cyberbullying cases involved Generation Z.

See also  Act as first looking for a house - la Repubblica

“Children left alone in front of their devices are also prey to sexual extortion – – – adds Ciardi – also in this case, we have registered a new drop in age. Out of 14 cases in the 0-13 range, 4 involved children up to nine years of age. It is the thermometer of a situation that is rapidly degenerating and that requires a complex solution “

That the pandemic has brought with it an increase in reports is also the position of Telefono Azzurro: “We must build protection systems that give them the opportunity to ask for help – said the President Ernesto Caffo – Companies find themselves playing a privileged role in the fight against toxic material found online. Technologies such as PhotoDNA, capable of identifying child sexual abuse material (CSAM) are crucial in this sense and demonstrate that there is a strong commitment to combat abuse. However, even more needs to be done, developing systems based on artificial intelligence, capable for example of also identifying grooming (grooming, ed) and verifying the age of users “.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy