MYTHS AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

Young people's use of online communication has increasingly become a concern for policy-makers, professionals, and parents. Sharing personal information and grooming or sexual solicitation by online predators have been prominent on the list of dangers. However, little research exists to support fears. This paper reviews the data we do have and shows that, far from being a major problem, the risks from online communication are small-scale and largely focused upon particular groups within the population. Furthermore, they are often misrepresented by safety campaigns and largely within the competencies of young people to manage. It goes on to argue that the over-zealous risk discourse may prevent many benefits of online communication being experienced by young people. Furthermore, the potential for using communication tools as policy vehicles has been largely ignored. The paper concludes by suggesting how risk discourses can be refined to more accurately reflect reality and also how professionals can harness the potential of online communication to benefit young people's lives.

Keywords:

• computer-mediated communication
• young people
• social policy
• social networking
• cybercrime
• risk

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr John Hudson for his helpful comments and encouragement in producing this paper and also the reviewers for their constructive criticisms.