Protecting Children In Cyber Space

Meaning and implication: Cyber Space is a room / place where connectivity / communication can be made with the lived and unlived elements through electronic means or internet i.e. Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) and Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) which was started from 1980s and achieved public face from 1990s. It integrates a large number of abilities such as sensors, signals, connection, transmission processors and controllers.

Children are delicate and weak and due to immaturity the youngsters are easily attracted by vulgarity. Once a time a heavy curtain was found hanging on the entrance door of Net Café and teenagers were found there on the screen of Cyber Space. They used to enjoy themselves in chatting or seeing nude and vulgar scenes. Up till now naked films and other unpleasant activities are being carried out in the Cyber Café causing of spoiling the teenagers that must be come to an end. The habit of seeing nude and naked films adversely affects the health of children and it leads them towards perversion. If they are not kept under control they will become troublemaker not only for parents and family members but also for the whole society and the country resultantly our youths will become dull and we could not produce Scientist, Economists, Intellectuals, Educationist Experts etc that are necessary for the growth of the country and without these expert people the country will be in stake position. To save the youngsters from all adversities of Cyber Space the following steps must be taken by the parents or guardians:-

Protection through Prayer/Salat: Twenty-four hours surveillance cannot be made upon children as human beings have limited resources and strength. Only God can protect His all creatures round the clock. It is the verdict of the Holy Quran that Prayer saves all kind of evils. Therefore children may be made accustomed of offering prayer five times a day as it is established fact that prayers hold back the acts of nudeness and other miss-deeds also we know that most people of different religion seek help from God through prayer in their respective way of method. Scientific studies regarding the use of prayer show that prayer has substantial weight and it heals the disappointed people.

Avoidance of Haram livelihood: If we want to protect our children from the demerits of Cyber Space we shall have to bring them up with legitimate earnings as unlawful incomes spoil their characters and manners. They become disloyal to their parents, religion and society.

Protection through Teaching: Before allowing children to go to Cyber Space they may be taught about the pros and cons of the Cyber Space and advise them to open only informative and useful sites which could facilitate their studies or play brain storming computer games with their friends. Parents should also observe their behaviors and conversations with elders – their communications with friends - their dealings with friends as well as must observe the acts and characters of their friends. Besides, children are not allowed to remain off from homes during night times as night also brings evils along with darkness. We should save our children from the evils of darkness. They may also be not allowed to go Net Café during night hours except on valid and essential need.

Protection through Character Building and Manners: From the beginning of the World the conflict and war is continued between the evil and virtue forces and it will continue till the end of the world. We should induct our children into virtue forces by building up their characters and ethical values. By observing the ethical values they can be protected in Cyber Space as virtues defeat the ill deeds and notions. The real destination of human beings is Heaven but its acquisition is not easy. Only righteous person who leads his life according to lesson and instructions of God can acquire Heaven. Such teachings which could put the children on the right tract and track should be inculcated in their minds so that they could try to go on the path preached by our Holy Prophet. Having made them informed about the Sunna of the Prophet we can instill good virtues in our children and protect them from many dangerous and invalid temptations of the world. It is universal fact that changing is being taken place continuously and children cannot be stopped of using the aspects and substances of the latest and scientific inventions and developments. We should build up their character and manners according to the teachings of the Holy Prophet so they could familiar with the merits and demerits of all electronic means. We know that all kind of excessiveness and high-handedness cannot stop children on going to Cyber Café so if their characters and morals are built up according to Heaven teachings they may not spoil by devil spirit.

Spiritual help: To protect the children in Cyber Space the parents are required to recite Sura “Flaq” and Sura “Naas” three times and blow it over their children on daily basis as the holy verses protect each bad deeds by the blessing of ALLAH.

I recommend the Government to do the following to protect the children in Cyber Space:-

Preventive software The Government should install preventive softwares such as Parental Guide or Nanny or else immediately at the Central Server of the country and at the Servers of all Cyber Café across the country as they will prevent and stop the unpleasant and nude sites. Such steps if taken by the Government will save the children from Sex and Nudity.

Code of Conduct: The Government should issue codes of conduct to all proprietor of Cyber Café and strictly implement them as we know that a code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities for an organization to adhere the rules strictly prescribed by the authority. The code of conduct may facilitate and look after the interest of all stakeholders and care the rights of all elements affected by its operations. In this way also the children in Cyber Space can be supervised, monitored and protected.

Education through Electronic Media: The Government should also initiate education program conducted by an Educationist or well renowned intellectual for youngsters on electronic media in which they are guided how to use internet, cells, etc. positively so that maximum benefits could be achieved from the scientific inventions given that electronic media is powerful means.

Visible and invisible surveillance of Cyber Café: To protect the children in Cyber Space the Government should adopt a strategy of visible and invisible surveillance of all Cyber Café of the country by using the services of God-fearing and sober spies of intelligent bureau.

Making Preventive Laws: Appropriate laws should be made by the Government for Cyber Space and Internet Café for preventing them from unlawful activities and also to stop them in spreading nudeness for the betterment of the teenagers. The preventive laws for nudeness must be strictly enforced across the country and all offenders (cyber space and beyond) must be brought into books firmly.