Usage of Internert Code Language by Youth and its Awareness Amongst Parents

Usage of Internert Code Language by Youth and its Awareness Amongst Parents

Usage of Internet Code Language by Youth and its Awareness Amongst Parents

Deblina Chakraborty

CD9, POS, MOS!!!Can you understand these terms? Certainly not! Well, these are one of the most commonly used chat codes used by youth to maintain secrecy and keep their parents in dark.In layman language these are called internet slang or "netspeak". Many of these codes seem to be scary but unfortunately they are part of today's youth chatting. Trend of using codes is getting popularized as for most of the parents they are almost impossible to understand.

Usages of these codes are now one of the major concerns for headaches of parents. They are willing to know but not aware of how to do so? For them there are various decoding websites are available where anyone can easily decode this shorthand. A recently conducted survey (Chakraborty, 2011) on overall 60 mothers of adolescents and who themselves use internet concludes that-

Level of ignorance for internet codes was very high amongst the mothers above 40 years of age as compared to mothers' below 40 years, as they make use of internet in their daily lives and hence were much aware about their children's on line activities and showed a great level of concern towards usage of internet codes by their children.

Interest in information regarding these codes, decoding websites and filtering and blocking software was more in mothers who used internet as compared to those who used it to a minimum or seemed to be totally unaware about usage of internet codes. Similarly they also seemed to be least interested in knowing about these codes as compared to the other group of mothers.

Decoding Websites

1. NoSlang.com

2. Teenangels.org.

3. Teenchatdecoder.com

4. NetLingo .com

5. Twictionary .com

6. Idaho.com

7. netsmartz411.org

8. 1337Talk.com.

Filtering and Blocking Software

1. MyWeb- The filter blocks access to material that you don't want your kids accessing. It also has a spam-proof email account, educational tools, and a 'kid friendly' internet radio station.

2. Noah's Web-softwarethat empowers parents to keep their children safe on the Internet.

3. Access Control Software-A parental control utility that allows filtering of programs, websites, messenger programs and computer/Internet use by time and day.

Tips for parents

Communicatewith your child. Be involved in your child's activities; know their friends, hobbies, and interests.

Take time to teach your children to use the Internet responsibly.

Make sure the computer is in a high traffic area.

Familiarizeyourself with the computer, programs, and the method that your child uses to communicate online.

When possible, use the Internet with your children.

Use Internet filters or blocking software, and parental controls

Set time limits for Internet use.

Knowyour children's friends - and their parents. Find out what rules/safeguards other parents have at homes where your child might be spending time online.

Know about the meanings of abbreviations and acronyms used in chat rooms and online and chat room signs emoticons used.

Findout whom children are exchanging E-mail with, and only let them use chat areas when you can supervise.

Beaware of any other computers or Internet access available to your child.

Give them a code of conduct.

Solution to this problem is not to avoid or get you away from technology. Instead, take interest and look out for various websites, filtering and blocking software. Becoming technically alert can sort this problem to a great extent. Keep an eye on your child's on line activities. Negligence just leads to unwanted consequences It is important that new measures can be taken to bring awareness amongst parents as negligence and deprivation from internet can be the cause of difficult situations in the lives of both parents and children.

Furthermore there is a rapid necessity to take preventive measures to stop and control children's online activities because it affects the psychological and mental health of children. And can result into unwanted consequences which can be avoided with little awareness.

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