Freedom And The Internet

Internet identities are simple and easy to create. They allow users to surpass social expectations or requirements so that being a virtual man might be more comfortable than being a virtual woman. Video games—a popular area for international communication—are still very sexist supporting the notion that being a man online is easier than being a woman online. This emphasizes the desire for young people who do not fit in to find solace with online groups and group suicides. It is a bittersweet reminder that there are others out there like them who care and feel like death is the only answer. Others see that their good name is slandered around the internet causing shame and fear for what bitter comments will come next, thus encouraging suicide as their only escape.

One can easily argue that a good reason for a lack of censorship at the grassroots—or family—level is because the computer and internet is a relatively new fad which has many parents unsure of how to monitor the activities of their children. Children view a computer as an essential part of their lives while parents do not. Because of this, many parents might allow children limitless access to the internet because they assume that the computer is viewed as a vital part of their lives and they leave them to it.

On the other hand, parents might be very uncomfortable with the new technology and what it is doing for their children and to their children. The internet is responsible for preparing children at a young age for the digital age in which they will grow up, but also creating misogyny which leads girls to subject themselves more and more. The female characters in many online games are always scantily clad and have Barbie-like bodies which are far from healthy or proportioned.

On the other hand, it can create androgyny between men and women who are able to be either one in the anonymous world of the internet and who can play roles as either male or female characters. This leads to the formation of online groups which play together frequently from around the world. Internet defamation takes place in these online groups where young children talk poorly to another player on the other team without any regard for who that person might be.