Should Parents Censor The Internet

Nowadays, the Internet is the most widely used source and the fastest way to exchange
information and knowledge around the globe. It is regarded as a global computer network
which provides a variety of information and communication facilities. In the past 10 years,
Internet penetration in Malaysia has increased steadily, either through electronic devices such
as computers, smartphones or tablets. In the 21st Century, it is undeniably true that the
Internet is important as we can get information and education from the Internet. Through the
Internet, we get knowledge which we can implement in our daily life. However, at the
downside of the Internet, freedom and democracy on Internet, which is one of its greatest
beauties and drawing features, is abused by the population online (“Analytical Essay
Sample on Internet Censorship: Key Concerns”, n.d.). Pornography and hate literature are
commonly used to grab Internet users' attention to generate profits (“Analytical Essay
Sample on Internet Censorship: Key Concerns”, n.d.). As the parents of the future
generations, I agree that parents have the absolute responsibility to censor the internet to
protect their children from harmful and false information, thus to prevent any possible
deterioration of social and moral values.

Parents should censor the internet to mitigate its negative impacts. This is because we
all know that children especially the ones who are below 12 years old, can easily be
manipulated and influenced by all kinds of information online (“Analytical Essay Sample
on Internet Censorship: Key Concerns”, n.d.). In the past, parents only have to worry
about what books are allowed for their children to read. As the parents can easily tell what the
books are about, they do not worry that their children will turn a page which contains
obscenities or other forms of indecent behaviours (“Analytical Essay Sample on Internet
Censorship: Key Concerns”, n.d.). However, with the existence of the Internet, there is a
whole different scenario. On the Internet, anyone can click on any page and be confronted
with misinformation, denigration, discrimination, fraud and porn (“Analytical Essay Sample
on Internet Censorship: Key Concerns”, n.d.). Therefore, in this case, parents have to step
in and take their responsibility to censor the internet and filter out disturbing websites which
may affect the children mentally. This is because young children are unable to filter and
analyse the information presented to them. They take what they receive. A children's moral
consciousness may be weakened by viewing undue internet information. These websites can
have a severely bad effect on the healthy growth of children and can lead them to commit the
adolescent crime (“The Advantages Of Internet Censorship Media Essay”, 2016).
Therefore, an uncensored Internet is not a safe environment for a child to grow up in.

Furthermore, undue materials on the internet such as pornography and violence can
contribute negative impacts on young minds (“The Advantages Of Internet Censorship
Media Essay”, 2016). Pornography on the internet often embrace sexual violence and
normalizes sexual harm. A forensic paediatrician and faculty member at the University of
North Carolina School of Medicine, Dr Sharon Cooper, suggests that imagery affects children
(Baxter, 2014). According to Dr Cooper, children and youth are more vulnerable to
pornographic images compared to adults due to the mirror neurons in the brain (Baxter,
2014). Mirror neurons have important roles in children's learning process. Children learn with
mirror neurons involved in their process of observing what other people do and from there,
they imitating those behaviours (Baxter, 2014). Therefore, these explicit contents
undoubtedly exert a negative influence on young minds physically and psychologically. In
this case, internet censorship is a protection measure for the younglings. Parents should filter
and censor explicit internet contents from time to time so that their children will be raised
healthily mentally and physically.

The other reason why I agree that parent should censor the internet is due to the rising
cases of cyberbullying. On the internet, the users are anonymous and therefore, people are
brave enough to leave insulting comments which may hurt others’ feelings. Over the years,
there have been many suicide cases caused by internet bullying. One of the famous suicide
cases due to cyberbullying is Amanda Todd's case. Amanda Michelle Todd was a 15-year-old
Canadian teenager who had committed suicide due to the cyberbullying which she had been
receiving online for years. She shared her stories regarding her cyberbullying experience on
Youtube before committing suicide. To prevent young people from doing this again, parents
should constantly monitor their children's social activities on the Internet. The censorship of
internet can decrease internet violence and protect one's personal security (“The Advantages
Of Internet Censorship Media Essay”, 2016). If the children receive internet bullying, one
of the things that parents can do is to censor the internet to protect their children from
harmful comments.

As I stated above, I agree that parents should censor the internet to mitigate its negative
impacts as the internet can easily influence children including teenagers. At the same time, it
also contains misinformation and harmful materials, and can also lead to cyberbullying.
Although I agree that parents should censor certain contents of the internet, parents should
also avoid overly taking control of their children on the internet as the children need to learn
to be independent and search for useful information. If parents take actions on internet
censorship, they could mitigate the negative impacts that the internet contributes.

Reference List:

1. The Advantages of Internet Censorship Media. (2016). Retrieved from

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/the-advantages-of-internet-censorship-
media-essay.php

2. Analytical Essay Sample on Internet Censorship: Key Concerns. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://howtowrite.customwritings.com/post/essay-internet-censorship/

3. Allison, B. (2014). How Pornography Harms Children: The Advocate's Role.

Retrieved from
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_interest/child_law/resources/child_law_
practiceonline/child_law_practice/vol-33/may-2014/how-pornography-harms-
children--the-advocate-s-role/
Appendix