Problem Solving Essay Draft 4

In 2014, Singaporeans were reported to be one of the most active users of social media in the world, spending 2.2 hours on average a day (Mohd, 2014). This is not surprising as Singapore has a smartphone penetration rate of 78% (“Singapore smartphone”, 2013) and through the use of social media, users are able to communicate rapidly, making them feel more connected to others. It is, however, worrying that this increase in connectivity is not just limited to friends and family members in users’ social circles, but extends to strangers as well.  A study has shown that more than 50% of Singaporeans have befriended strangers on social media (Trend Micro, 2013 as cited in Nurul, 2013) and this has especially impacted the young people who are more vulnerable to cyber-scams. Although, a non-profit charity organisation, Touch, has worked with Singapore schools to implement cyber wellness programmes to educate the young about the potential dangers of adding strangers online, parents can also play their part by monitoring children’s online activities through the use of software.

Young people in Singapore are defined as 14 to 16 years of age by the Children and Young Person Act (2011). They are more likely to add strangers on social media as they are at the stage of looking out for new friendships. Having a high tendency to be reckless and trusting to their friends also results in young people being more vulnerable to cyber-scams (Tai, 2013). When teens befriend strangers on social media, information such as their whereabouts, contact details and daily routine are made known to them. This allows cybercrime perpetrators to look for targets who are more vulnerable. For instance, in 2012, a 15-year-old teen was exploited to become a loan-shark runner after he posted on his Facebook that he was not receiving enough pocket money (Tai, 2013). Knowing his situation, a middle-aged man befriended the teen and offered him an irresistible offer of making a few hundred dollar for each “assignment” he took on. As evident, teens who are naïve can be easily exploited by cybercrime perpetrators who befriend them online.

Another growing concern is that these perpetrators would often chat with the youths through social media and attempt to meet them in the ‘real world’ upon gaining their trust. It was found that 26% of the youth population has met an online stranger in the ‘real world’ (“Norton Online Family”, 2010). This can lead to negative consequences such as rape or molestation, which has seen an increase in the number of cases over the years (Tai, 2013). One of the cases that occurred in 2003 was a polytechnic graduate that found young girls to rape through the Internet chatroom, resulting in three girls aged 13 to 14 getting raped. (Chong, 2013). The statistics and cases mentioned above have highlighted the potential dangers of befriending strangers on social media and the urgent need of educating the young to be more aware of online perpetrators.

To combat the issue of young people falling for cyber-scams, Touch, has come up with a cyber-wellness program entitled CRuSH (Cyberspace Risk and where U Seek Help) and has worked with schools to widen their outreach to students. Their program addresses issues such as cyber relationships and contacts, equipping youths with the skills to make informed decisions when challenging cyber wellness issues are encountered (Touch Cyber Wellness, 2013). Assessment and counselling are also available to help those with online relationship problems and other cyber issues. The Touch 2013 report revealed an increase in the number of schools and students their programmes have reached (Touch Community Services, 2013). The rise in number is also evident in their counselling programs, implying success in the areas of public awareness and education. Furthermore, CRuSH also has received positive reviews from secondary school students, with more than 90% of them rating the programme as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. However, it is not known if reports of cyber-scams experienced by young people have decreased after the implementation of cyber education, making it difficult to assess its effectiveness.

To further prevent teens from falling for cyber-scams, parents can opt to install software such as the Singtel Family Protect or the Norton Family. These software allows parents to gain insights on their children’s online activities. The Singtel Family Protection allows parents to limit the amount of time their children spend on the Internet and block unknown email addresses to minimise conversations with strangers (Singtel, 2015.). It also increases parental supervision by recording down conversations held on social media. The Norton Family extends these services to mobile phones as well. Despite these tools being able to inform parents about children’s online activities, it is vital that parents are able to maintain a close relationship and have open conversations with their children when they addressed cyber wellness issues. Parents can negotiate with their children the amount of time they can spend on social media and set boundaries in their monitoring of conversations. In that way, teens would not feel that parents are infringing on their privacy or being too controlling. By gaining insights of their children’s online activities, parents can then intervene before their children fall prey to cyber-scams.   

It is fortunate that the dangers of befriending strangers online have been made known to teens through cyber wellness education. However, social media users must nevertheless, continue to protect themselves online. As the Internet evolves and individuals become more tech-savvy, cybercrime perpetrators can come out with new ways to exploit the young. To minimise teens’ exposure to negative experiences on the cyberspace, parents should constantly monitor their children’s online activities and educate them to make wise decisions.

References:

Children and Young Person Act (2011) (SSO) (SG) Retrieved from http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=DocId%3A911aba78-1d05-4341-96b7-ee334d4a06f0%20%20Status%3Ainforce%20Depth%3A0;rec=0

Chong, E. (2013, February 5). 23 years' jail, 24 strokes for Internet sex fiend. The Straits Time. Retrieved from http://www.corpun.com/sgj00302.htm

Mohd, A. A. (2014, January 10). Singapore among the most active on social media: Report. TODAY. Retrieved from http://www.todayonline.com/tech/singapore-among-most-active-social-media-report

Norton Online Family report 2010 reveals 73 percent of Singaporean kids have had a negative online experience. (2010, July 6). Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.symantec.com/en/sg/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20100706_01

Nurul, A. A. (2013, October 25). 1 in 2 users in Singapore add strangers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Yahoo! News. Retrieved from https://sg.news.yahoo.com/1-in-2-users-in-singapore-add-strangers-on-facebook--twitter--instagram-142503612.html

Singapore smartphone and tablet penetration on the rise; app usage increasing. (2013, June 18). Retrieved from http://www.networksasia.net/article/singapore-smartphone-and-tablet-penetration-rise-app-usage-increasing-1371518626

Singtel (2015) Family protection. Retrieved from http://info.singtel.com/personal/internet/addons/family-protection/detail

Tai, J. (2013, June 12). More teens falling prey to cyber-scams. The Straits Time. Retrieved from http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/case-you-missed-it/story/more-teens-falling-prey-cyber-scams-20130612

Touch Cyber Wellness. (2013). Educate. Retrieved from http://www.planetcrush.org/programmes/educate.htm

Touch Community Services. (2013). Touch report 2013. Retrieved from http://www.touch.org.sg/files/annual.report.2013.pdf