Filtering the Internet in Schools Essay Example

should continue or it should be done away with (Bell, 11). Internet filtering should continue and actually be taken more seriously by coming up with new software that will prevent access to the smallest details of sites that may cause harm to the students.

Filtering protects the students from getting exposed to online fraudsters and therefore protecting them from getting robbed or manipulated to get them do illegal activities. Frauds can lure the young people into engaging in illegal activities like terrorism and therefore there are high chances that with an encumbrance from accessing the internet especially sites that contain such content students will be in line with the law (Bell, 12). Monitoring and filtering of the internet will prevent access to danger prone sites and therefore prevent such cases from starting and thus the harassment will not spread because it will not even start (Bell, 12). In case it starts the tutors and teachers or other people monitoring the internet connection will be able to intercept the messages and prevent the harassment of their students (Bell, 12). It has been observed that the cases of children who miss school because of bullying have reduced drastically after the introduction of internet filtering because bullies have had limited access to their victims and thus have not been able to be effective in their malicious and atrocious acts (Bell, 13).

Filtering protects the students from breaking the laws of the state by accessing some sites. The breaking of laws may come about by students accessing sites where they would download illegal music or videos and though some may do it unknowingly they will still break the law and strict

actions may be taken on them (Bell, & Mary Ann, 12). The largest and most efficient advantage of internet filtering is the prevention of students from accessing illegal material and adult content and this is actually the major reason for filtering in schools. However, this filtering comes with many disadvantages and thus there is a need to consider which is heavier and demands that things be done in its favor (Bell, & Mary Ann, 13).

Filtering of the internet in most cases limits the access of students to advanced information on various topics of study and therefore preventing the full exploitation of the specific fields of study by the students (Yanhong Wang, et al, 2). It has thus been observed that certain things have been over-filtered thus leading to consequences such as misleading information. This can happen as a result of the students trying to look for alternative sources to seek information or explanations after the sole sensible explanation have been kept out of reach (Yanhong Wang, et al, 7). By using misleading information, the information given in after completing their research is going to be deceiving and inappropriate thus leading to an unqualified generation. Another problem that arises from internet filtering is under-filtration of prohibited sites (Yanhong Wang, et al, 9). With the filtration, there is a need to continuously keep checking and this is rather difficult because there is continued introduction of new sited on daily basis thus there is always unwanted content that finds its way through to the students through certain sites that have been newly brought up (Yanhong Wang, et al, 11). Filters should not be used because it takes a

lot of resources unnecessary.

Filtering has consequences and it is important that before it is removed or implemented, the people in charge consider which is better to do. However, in a critical view, it is better to ensure that people observe filtering keenly in schools because it has proven to be effective in safeguarding the safety of the students (Magi & Trina, 63). By this, it is important to put into consideration what would have happened to the children if filtering had not been put in place. There would obliviously be a steady rise in immoral behavior among students and terrorist activities because of the children being exposed to the illegal activities that terrorist engage in (Magi & Trina, 63). The children would eventually learn to do these activities and slowly get absorbed into the activities of the cultic, and terrorist groups.

Filtering is no stray leader but is indeed a thing to bring back the society in place. By allowing access to all sites by students, they will get exposed to harmful material and will eventually prove to be disturbances to the rest of the society and cause destruction and erosion in the morality and peace of the community (Özgür & Hasan, 417). There are many dangers in the world and the population that is highly prone to this dangers is the young generation and thus, there is a need to protect them as they cannot do it themselves. The best way to protect them is by limiting their access to the sites where they will come face to face with this dangers and therefore the need to filter the sites they should and should not

access. This is the extent to which the advantages of internet filtering goes (Özgür & Hasan, 421).

References

1. Bell, MA 2016, 'Internet Filtering, School Faculty, and Trust: A Modest Proposal ... Really!', Internet@Schools, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 11-13.
2. Bell, Mary Ann. "Trumpeting About Internet Filtering." Internet@Schools 21.5 (2014): 12- 13. Professional Development Collection. Web. 16 May 2016.
3. Yanhong, Wang, et al. "The Health Belief Model And Number Of Peers With Internet Addiction As Inter-Related Factors Of Internet Addiction Among Secondary School Students In Hong Kong." BMC Public Health 16.(2016): 1-13. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 May 2016.
4. Magi, Trina. "I'm Being Required To Install An Internet Filter. What Should I Do?." Knowledge Quest 44.1 (2015): 63. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 May 2016.
5. Özgür, Hasan. "The Relationship Between Internet Parenting Styles And Internet Usage Of Children And Adolescents." Computers In Human Behavior 60.(2016): 411- 424. ScienceDirect. Web. 16 May 2016.