Blog 5: U.S. Tightening Web Privacy Policies to Protect Young

In America today, almost every child has a laptop, iPod, or cell phone that can access the internet.  Many major corporations, app developers, and data miners have been collecting information about the online activities of millions of young Internet users without their parents' awareness.  Some specific sites and apps have collected children's personal information such as photos and the location of the mobile device; in which the information could be used to tract down and locate the individual child.  With the rate of crime in America, this lack of privacy makes it too easy for predators and hackers.  Thanks to the F.T.C. (Federal Trade Commission) new rules and regulations will be placed on the internet in a matter of weeks.  For example, some current online practices, such as uploading a picture of yourself, will require parent consent if you are under the age of thirteen.
     Has technology created more problems for us rather than make our lives easier?  The influence of technology on Americans is too much.  Consumerism is taking over.  Each of us striving to have the newest generation of cell phone or television.  What is this doing to our children?  In other countries, children still play with pots, pans, sticks and tires, but in America, it's all about the iPhone, x-box, iPod, etc.  We are too materialistic as a society and because of this we are risking the lives of our children.  About 1.3 million reports of online child exploitation has been reported since 1998.  About 4% of children, ages 10 to 17, have received aggressive sexual solicitation--solicitor asked the child to meet them somewhere, etc.  About 34% of children have had exposure to unwanted exposure to sexual material and only 27% of this 34% told their parents.  Is technology hurting more than helping?

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2810#6

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/technology/ftc-moves-to-tighten-online-privacy-protections-for-children.html?ref=technology&_r=0