The sponsors of Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA) – House Bill HR 5319 cite a seemingly staggering statistic. Quoted directly in Findings section of the Act is the statistic from the United States Attorney General that "One in five children has been approached sexually on the Internet." It is right there in black and white printed in House Act HR 5319 RFS. Read any article about DOPA and this is one of the most frequently cited U.S. Department of Justice statistics and apparently key to the arguments in support of DOPA in the House. Stated on a recent ABC News report, the statistic was framed as, "One in five children is now approached by online predators." Make sure to come back to this ABC "quote" after you finish reading the rest of this post.
I did just a bit of Googling to learn more about this shocking statistic. While I'm online more hours than is likely "healthy" and I have had MySpace, Friendster, Facebook, AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, Skype, Gizmo IDs and been on countless other "social networking" blogs, wikis, CMS and LMS accounts over the past few years, I don't think I have ever received anything even close to a solicitation while online … unless you count the times my husband has sent me e-mails at 5:00 asking where I want to meet for dinner. Apparently, that may count . . .
In my search, I came across the basis for the alarming and often quoted U.S. Department of Justice statistic. The U.S. Department of Justice "Fact Sheet" provides Highlights of the 2001 Youth Internet Safety Survey based on findings originally reported in the following publication:
Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K.J., & Wolak, J. (2000). Online victimization: A report on the nation’s youth. Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (CV38)
… yes, that is right, one survey summarized 6 years ago is the basis for the statistic that propelled DOPA through the House. The survey was based on phone interviews with a national sample of 1,501 kids ages 10 through 17 who used the Internet at least once a month for the past 6 months – not quite MY definition of regular Internet users, but that isn't the point, I guess. The lead statistic in the U.S. Department of Justice "Fact Sheet" (based on the survey and report) is that "Almost 1 in 5 (19 percent) of the young Internet users surveyed received an unwanted sexual solicitation in the past year."
Before we move on, let's take a moment to put the timeframe of this survey into a bit more perspective. This report is based on survey data taken from August 1999 to February 2000 – data that is now nearly 7 years old. While I'm not an expert on this topic, it seems questionable to propel current legislation regarding kids and Internet technology on survey data that is almost 7 years old. In 1999 and 2000, most social networking sites were in their infancy and few schools or libraries (or homes, for that matter) had broadband Internet connections. Further, by now, nearly all of the 1,500 "kids" in the survey are likely well over 18 years old, so we aren't even looking at the habits of today's youth.
However, setting this aside, I spent a little bit more time seeking out those who may have attempted to validate the 1999 / 2000 survey and the reported findings. Danah Boyd, a PhD student at the School of Information, University of California-Berkeley, summarized her take on the survey and the often reported statistic in a May 30, 2006 DigitalDivide.net article by Henry Jenkins, co-director of Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT.
Danah Boyd: "The media often reference a Crimes Against Children report that states one in five children receive a sexual solicitation online. A careful reading of this report shows that 76% of the unwanted solicitations came from fellow children. This includes unwanted date requests and sexual taunts from fellow teens. Of the adult solicitations, 96% are from people 18-25; wanted and unwanted solicitations are both included. In other words, if an 18 year old asks out a 17 year old and both consent, this would still be seen as a sexual solicitation."
The remainder of the article is also worth a close read. It adds perspective to how people (kids in particular) have propelled the growth of social networking sites. In one passage, Jenkins provides his take on the growth, the recent coverage and ensuing backlash / panic:
"History shows us a recurring pattern surrounding the adaptation of any new communications technology. Young people are often early adopters: they are more open to new ideas and experiences; they are looking for ways to leave their mark on the world and they are seeking places where they can socially interact with minimal adult interference. Parents and teachers are often frightened by these new kinds of communication technologies which were not part of the world of their childhood: they don't really understand what their young people are doing with them and they don't know how to protect or supervise their children while they are engaged in these activities. The situation is thus ripe for moral panic.
A single high profile incident – some kind of tragedy or crime – can spark backlash. Political leaders, seeking headlines, and journalists, seeking readers, exploit those anxieties and feed those fears. Soon, there is a call to take action "even if it is wrong," a call to action which races well ahead of any serious research or thoughtful reflection on the matters at hand. The new legislation is being embraced by politicians in both parties eager to woo cultural conservatives and suburban voters [note: a reference to "The Suburban Caucus" and member Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick R-PA who sponsored HR 5319] as they enter what everyone knows is going to be a hotly contested election.
Over time, as these technologies become better integrated into everyday life, as the generation which grew up with these technologies takes on adult responsibilities, things calm down again. People develop a more balanced perspective which sees both the benefits and risks associated with these activities. Rather than restrict access, we educate our young people in the safe, ethical, and creative use of these technologies. Right now, MySpace is at the most disruptive point in this cycle: people are reacting in ignorance and fear and in doing so, they increase the risks and discard the benefits of these emerging cultural practices."
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