Social media has become increasingly important to
Japanese teenagers. Popular social media in Japan such as Twitter, mixi, and
GRee become major platforms for these teenagers to actively engage in. A white
paper published by Ministry of Home Affairs & Communications in 2011
discovered that 71.2 percent of teenagers in Japan use one or more social media
platforms. In the same white paper, it shows that 73.7% of social media users
use social media for the purpose of searching and communicating with strangers
with similar interests. This white paper shows that there is a high proportion
of teenage social media users are susceptible to risks of falling into traps
set by strangers. Other than communicating with people with similar interests, teenagers
also tend to use social media to engage in deeper level communications with
acquaintances. As a result of such a high dependency on social networks for
communication, Japanese teenagers became more prone to the dangers brought by
online predators. The susceptibility of Japanese teenagers against dangers of
social media lies in loose regulation of the Internet environment. In addition,
further education and warning should be implemented to raise the level of
alertness of teenagers.
Teenagers use social media to communicate. Due to
the availability of free chat functions on these platforms, the media became
sexually tainted. As a result, sex crimes such as compensation dating and rapes
arise from over-dependency on social media for communication. In addition to social media, Deai-kei
site, or dating web services in English, have not been regulated so as to
protect teenage users. Within the process of chatting with strangers online,
some teenagers are convinced to reveal their personal information and to meet
these strangers. According to Inoue (2010), there are more than 1000 teenage
victims each year in Japan that government regulations have to be implemented to
reduce this tragic number. There have been strict institutional enforcement of
usage and social media users monitoring. The root of the problem lies in the
insufficiency of education on risks of social media as well as floppy attitude
towards underage sex.
Law
and regulation enforcement against social media usage should be implemented
especially for teenagers. One way to do so is to implement registration by real
names and particulars in social media sites where free-chat functions are
allowed. If users register themselves with real particulars, law enforcement
bodies such as police and the Ministry of Home Affairs & Communication can
track down any inappropriate conversations in preventing criminal activities
against teenagers. In addition, users with particulars registered will allow
monitoring bodies to ensure that the internet environment is safe for
teenagers. Social media sites are being used for dating purposes in many cases,
and victims usually are unaware of the risks they might face. Implementing such
regulations can at least bring any offenders to justice and can at least rescue
the victim before anything worse could happen. However, the setback of this
system is that individuals can use fake particulars to register online for SNS
services. Tracking might also be difficult when users register with fake addresses
or other people’s addresses. A higher level of security can also be suggested
by requiring parents’ or guardians’ information such as their driver’s license
numbers or credit card numbers. There will always be loopholes in monitoring
online activities, and there will be criticisms on privacy intrusions. For a
safer internet environment for teenagers, such measures are necessary to a
large extent.
The Chinese government monitors its internet contents extensively in fear of political unrest, and Japan could use the same method in warning teenage users against potential dangers. In China, websites, instant messaging services such as QQ and WeChat, and online forums have been closely monitored by the government. When there are sensitive keywords such as money, remittance, or political words appearing in the content, the system automatically detects the keyword and warn users against potential threats. If this system is being introduced in Japan across all social media and phone applications, teenagers could be warned against potential sex crimes. Inoue(2010) pointed out that there was a case of a victim aged 16 years old being asked to send nude photos of herself to a stranger in exchange for in-game coins for popular application GRee in Okayama Prefecture, violating the law of child pornography prohibition. Such conversation exchange should have been brought down before the dignity of the girl was ruined by such a pervert. Although the West will heavily criticize that such strict control of the internet is violating the spirit of freedom, the act of exploitation of freedom by suspicious ones must be curbed.
Even though hard measures are being implemented, the root of the social media susceptibility occur in teenagers lies in education. School and parental education on Japanese teenagers can focus on risks of using social media sites, with emphasis on how to identify hints or invitations to these activities. There is a need to alert teenage users that social media sites contain more risks behind communicating only, and education on prevention of leakage of personal information is necessary as well. Information-technology and Promotion Agency in Japan has warned teenage users on how to prevent risks, such as not revealing personal information and set higher security level. The agencies also provide support in case of tragedy happens. Although there are education on the national level, but parental and school levels are insufficient. In Japan, third-party organizations which promote SNS safety are active outside campus, but the penetration rate amongst students may be a big question mark.
The Chinese government monitors its internet contents extensively in fear of political unrest, and Japan could use the same method in warning teenage users against potential dangers. In China, websites, instant messaging services such as QQ and WeChat, and online forums have been closely monitored by the government. When there are sensitive keywords such as money, remittance, or political words appearing in the content, the system automatically detects the keyword and warn users against potential threats. If this system is being introduced in Japan across all social media and phone applications, teenagers could be warned against potential sex crimes. Inoue(2010) pointed out that there was a case of a victim aged 16 years old being asked to send nude photos of herself to a stranger in exchange for in-game coins for popular application GRee in Okayama Prefecture, violating the law of child pornography prohibition. Such conversation exchange should have been brought down before the dignity of the girl was ruined by such a pervert. Although the West will heavily criticize that such strict control of the internet is violating the spirit of freedom, the act of exploitation of freedom by suspicious ones must be curbed.
Even though hard measures are being implemented, the root of the social media susceptibility occur in teenagers lies in education. School and parental education on Japanese teenagers can focus on risks of using social media sites, with emphasis on how to identify hints or invitations to these activities. There is a need to alert teenage users that social media sites contain more risks behind communicating only, and education on prevention of leakage of personal information is necessary as well. Information-technology and Promotion Agency in Japan has warned teenage users on how to prevent risks, such as not revealing personal information and set higher security level. The agencies also provide support in case of tragedy happens. Although there are education on the national level, but parental and school levels are insufficient. In Japan, third-party organizations which promote SNS safety are active outside campus, but the penetration rate amongst students may be a big question mark.
Furthermore,
there is insufficient education on correct attitudes towards sex. Many Japanese
teenagers consider that it is normal and acceptable to be engaged in sexual
activities at their age. Suzui et al. (2006) found that 77.2% of high school
girls view sexual activities being acceptable. If teenagers do not treasure
their bodies and safety, sex seekers will have a greater chance in preying upon
them. Teenagers need to know that the casualness of sex will lead to greater
problems such as law breaking, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancies.
All in all, there should be a greater level of education at a closer life
proximity with teenagers.
In conclusion, regulations and educations should work together in order to compensate the shortcoming of each other with regard to reducing the danger of social media usage by teenagers. While government regulation and monitoring can reduce new cases of teenage sex crimes, education from young can instill a sense or alertness at a massive scale that future or existing social media users will know how to protect themselves against the dangers presented by sex predators.
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References
Inoue,
O. (2010, December 8). SNS wo nayamasu Deai kei mondai no Shinen, Hi-deaikei no
higai jidosu wa saiaku suijun he [Abyss of troubles from SNS dating services,
child victims numbers from non-dating websites increased to worst levels]. Nikkei Keizai News. Retrieved from
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZZO19323130T01C10A2000000/
Ministry
of Home Affairs & Communications. (2011). Sosyaru media no riyoujyouhou:
Heisei 23 nen ban, jyouhou tsushinhakusho [Usage on social media, white paper
2011 version] Ministry of Home Affairs
& Communications Japan. Retrieved from http://www.soumu.go.jp/johotsusintokei/whitepaper/ja/h23/html/nc232310.html
Information-technology
and Promotion Agency. (2014). Higai ni attara [In case there is a crime]
(2014), Information-technology and
Promotion Agency Japan. Retrieved from http://www.ipa.go.jp/security/kokokara/accident/
Suzui,
E., & Hiraoka, A. (2006). Attitudes towards Sexuality among High School
Students in Japan. 12(2007 89-96), 1-1. Retrieved from
http://www.kawasaki-m.ac.jp/soc/mw/journal/en/2007-e12-2/05_suzui.pdf