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The Internet is gaining popularity worldwide. Statistics show that some 60 million people in 160 countries are on the Net.

   Governments are trying to understand and regulate this new medium.

   Some people say that the Net is a threat to cultural and political security.

  Others worry about bad elements including pornography, crime and cultural imperialism.

  Many educators are worried that the unhealthy material on the Internet will have a negative effect on young people.

  According to some studies, 83.5 per cent of pictures posted to Usenet newsgroups were pornographic, and the most frequently visited newsgroups included many dedicated to sex.

  Users in more than 40 countries regularly access these resources.

  There seems to be an increasing need for fencing off the Net.

  Seven girls from True Light Girls' College shared their views on the subject with Young Post.

  Most of the students agreed that the Government should control or ban pornographic web sites because they would corrupt the minds of youths.

  They said young people were easily influenced by what they see and read.

  Elaine Ho Yui-ki, a Form Six arts student, said: 'Pornographic web sites give the wrong messages about sex.'    Young people might develop the wrong attitude towards the subject, she said.

  Elaine suggested the setting up of passwords to tackle the problem.

   Pauline Lam Pui-ling agreed. She also recommended that Internet Service Providers set up passwords or come up with software that would prevent young people from gaining access to these sites.

   Jackie Kwan Siu-ming, however, said it would be technically difficult or impossible to get rid of the problem.

  'Up until now, there are no effective ways to control pornographic web sites, and I doubt the effectiveness of legislation because the structure and network of the Internet is so complicated,' she said.

  Jackie said youths should exercise more control and refrain from accessing such web sites.

  Ellen Chan Ho-ying, a Form Six science student, said she did not see any reason why the Net should be controlled, despite the pitfalls of leaving it open and free.

  'Controlling the Internet would raise doubts about human rights and freedom of information,' she said.

  'Moreover, the stricter the restrictions on these web sites, the more curious users will be,' she added.

  Both Emily Ng Jia-yan and Fion Ng Wai-fong believed that schools and parents could help solve the problem.

  They said teachers should alert students to the dangers of unhealthy material which was available on the Net.

  Fifth-former Pauline Ng Pui-ling said parents played an important role in educating their children.

  'They should give them guidelines on material they should and should not read,' she said.

  'They should also keep track of the kinds of web sites their children are using,' she added.

  Pauline also suggested that Internet Service Providers come up with more interesting home pages for youths to take their attention away from pornographic sites.



Block Internet pornography