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Running head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
1
The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
Capella University
Stephen Scott
May 3, 2015
Author Note
This paper was prepared for English Composition 1000, taught by Professor Perry.
Running Head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
Summary
In the article “The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger”, Cathleen A. Cleaver talks about the dangers that the internet poses and how the same laws need to apply to the internet as they do in everyday life (Cleaver, 312). Cleaver presents three major topics of concern: children and the internet, pornography and the internet, and internet transactions should not be exempt. Since technology has progressed so rapidly with the internet and has so many devices that give access to it the country has evolved the ways people can communicate with one another (313). Cleaver gives several examples on crimes that can be perpetrated on the internet. She explains that new laws need to be created to protect the citizens in this country so their time on the internet is safe. First, Cleaver explains that children have access to the internet at an early age and could be exposed to explicit content (313). Some people feel that it’s the responsibility of the parent to censor their child’s content (313). Since children have the ability to learn very quickly. Cleaver states “Most children demonstrate computer proficiency that their children have taught them about the internet, which gives new relevance to Wordsworth’s insight: ‘The child is father of the
man” (313). If a child’s parents don’t understand how to use the internet they are not going to be
able to regulate the activities of their children every time they use it. That why it’s so important for new laws and regulations to be made to ensure that the internet is safe for all ages. Second, Cleaver explains how pornography on the internet needs to be regulated due to little restrictions on content (314). Cleaver talks about how easily it is for children to have access to explicit content such as rape, bestiality, and incest on the internet (314). Pornography on the internet is a huge business and anyone can put material for free on to websites. Then websites will put pornography on the top of search engines and have pop up advertisement that
Running Head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
lead children into their very graphic websites. It’s hard for filters or parents to restrict access to these sites for children states Cleaver, “It’s far easier for a distributor of pornography to control his material than it is for parents who must with the help of software, search for and find the pornographic sites, which change daily, and then attempt to block them” (315). New laws could force the operators of these sites to adhere to strict guidelines that prohibit them from marketing on sites that are safe for all ages (315).
Third, she states that internet transactions should not be exempt from legal restrictions. People who oppose these restrictions try to use old laws to validate breaking the law on the internet (315). Several of the laws need to be updated as new technology comes out. Cleaver gives an example, that back in the 80’s people argued that it was legal to have child pornography
on VHS since you need a VCR to play them and the tape itself is just harmless plastic (315). Cleaver says, “The question of enforcement usually is raised here, and it often comes in the form
of: ‘How are you going to stop people from doing it?” There will always be someone on the internet that will put content on there that is harmful (315). The government will have to continually make efforts to ensure the internet is safe and doesn’t have easy access to explicit content. Cleaver talks about “Search engines don’t have to run ads for porn sites or prioritize search results to highlight porn” (316). The internet is a great resource, but it needs to be regulated and not be exempt from any laws, regulations, or restrictions. Response
Cleaver makes some very valid points in the essay. It very important that the internet is safe for everyone from child to adult. Cleaver talks about the government having a responsibility to make new laws that strictly regulate explicit content from being easily accessible. Recently, I saw an example of this issue affecting a mother and her son after she bought him a new cellphone from me at BestBuy. She wanted him to have a nice phone so he would be able to get in contact with her during an emergency and have access to GPS in case he
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Running Head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
got loss. Within the first couple hours of purchase she called me saying her 10 year old son had made his way into some very graphic websites. Since she didn’t know anything about technology she called me and asked if I could help. I researched an app that she could use to block content by rating, but there’s still the possibility of internet sites finding ways to get their content past a rating system (315). This shows that some parents don’t have the knowledge needed to protect their children on the internet and that’s why it’s the responsibility of the government to closely regulate it. Also, the author calls for the laws of technology to continually be updated as the need arises (315). People that are trying to commit crimes on the internet will try to justify their actions as legal if the law wasn’t written to include the internet. Another point Cleaver makes is that the pornography industry brings in over $1 billion annually making it the largest adult store in history (314). Since the industry is so huge it makes it that much more likely that a child will accidently click their way into a graphic website if there are not filters that
keep pornography from coming up in search engines and through advertisements on other harmless websites. The government could force the pornography industry online to be restricted to special browsers and search engines that are not preloaded on any computer bought to help with combat this issue. Conclusion
In conclusion, the Cleaver brings up some very validate point about the danger that the internet can pose to children. Since most parents are not skilled enough with the internet
to filter their child’s content it becomes more important for new laws to be created to properly regulate the internet so it’s safe for everyone. Also, old laws need to be modernized to include the internet so criminals do not have loopholes. Finally, people and children should never be forced to see advertisements, spam emails, or search engine results that are related to pornography while on the internet.
Running Head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
Running Head: The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger
References
Cleaver A. C. “The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger.” Stephen Reid, Ed. (2012) The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writing. 9
th
ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ, Pearrson.
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