Most young people do not know how to recognize the dangers of the internet
To fight against a problem, the first step is recognize it. Otherwise, it is possible to be in front of him and not be aware of the risk that is running, or when it is perceived too late. In this situation is where many young people find themselves when surfing Internet since most of them do not perceive the threats that lurk in the network.
This was indicated by the association Project Man During his conference "Submerged in the digital world, a new challenge", where addiction has been treated Internet It has become very common among young people from 14 to 18 years old. A risk that increases when it is verified that most of them do not know how to recognize when they are in a dangerous situation within the network.
Feeling of impunity
Project Man highlights the growth that has been the use of new technologies in our country for years, 74% of young people interviewed by this organization claimed to have recognized their first mobile between 10 and 14 years. In addition, before 15, 90% said they already had a smartphone with an internet connection.
Among the most common uses of these terminals There is chat communication, something that 87% of teenagers with smartphone do. Just under 30% spend more time on social networks. Although of all these uses what stands out most is the sense of impunity with which young people surf the Internet.
75% of young people believe that they will not encounter any problem in their navigation online and do not know how to recognize possible dangers on the web. Something that is related to the knowledge of security standards since 80% know cybersecurity theory, although within this percentage the majority affirms that it does not always put these mechanisms into practice.
Increase in cybercrimes
One of the problems that involves the use of smartphones in adolescents is their addiction to them. The abusive use of these terminals is a real problem and what happens too often. However, as evidenced by the data of Proyecto Hombre, a small percentage of young people are aware of this. Only the 18,6% of this social group admits it.
Some data that collide with that recorded by this organization when it comes to serving young people with problems of addiction to new technologies. In 2013, only 0.42% of the adolescent population resorted to the help of this agency to address this situation, however, in 2016 this number increased to 2.8%. An upward trend that shows how dependence has grown on these terminals among the new generations.
However, it is not young people who take the initiative at the time of dealing with this problem. In 80% of the cases that come to ask for help, it is a relative (usually the parents) who initiate this procedure. A situation that adds to the feeling of overflow that many parents have to follow the use made by their children of their smartphones, since the knowledge they have is much greater than that of adults.
Damián Montero
