Internet chat rooms no place for a 9 year old girl
By violeta_va
@violeta_va (4831)
Australia
April 1, 2008 7:25am CST
I was just talking to my cousin on the internet (MIRC as that is what she can use) anyway she send me an sms to tell me she would be on the net at that time so I went a bit early and noticed that using my cousins computer was a nick I didnt know. So I wrote ASL and the reply was 22 f and the place. I was confused as no one in the house is 22. So after that I didnt write anything until my cousin loged in. I said who was that before and she said "oh that was Alexandra (her daughter)" I said oh ok because she said 22 I was confused. She said yeah she writes that because no one would talk to her if they knew how old she was. Well I was lost for words. I know what sort of people write there and what they write and its not something a 9 year old should be reading and her mum thinks its ok. So I said why didnt you write when you saw me log in she said she was downstairs and didnt know. There is no adult supervision to the child. Dont you think this is wrong? What is your opinion?
7 responses
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
2 Apr 08
I dont know how my cousin can not see that she is acting as if that is normal. its like someone is 45 but saying he is 20
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Apr 08
Your cousin really is opening the door to all sorts of nightmares. Those chat rooms can be not only very adult oriented but a child molesters playground. She should be teaching her child internet safety and supervising her online. There are child chat rooms where it's safe for kids to chat with other kids (they are all signed up through the parents). I'd really sit down and talk to your cousin and try to make her understand the dangers she is letting her daughter get into.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Apr 08
All I can say is she's playing a dangerous game letting her on there and encouraging (or not stopping her) from posing as a 22 year old. I sincerely hope she doesn't live to regret not doing something to stop it.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
1 Apr 08
I used to go on MIRC and let me tell you that it is No 1 place where strange things happen. I have stoped using it for that reason. It is so adult oriented that even I dont feel right using it. My cousin is an idiot so there is no way she could get what I am saying she would say things like "oh but she will cry if I dont let her" or "all her friends are using it" I know as her son got his first proper mobile when he was 6 because he had to have it. For God sakes they live in a very small town (about 4000 people) the school is about 300m from her house why would a 6 year old need a mobile.
1 person likes this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
2 Apr 08
Aparently she cried because her brother who is 15 gets to talk to lots of people and she does not, that is the exuse my cousin gave me. Lucky she is not able to see my reaction when I read that. To me this is totaly crazy. I hope that the child is smart enough not to get her self in trouble when her parents dont care.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
11 Apr 08
Goodness! 9 and on MIRC? I used to be very frequent there (when I was in my 20s) and you are so right about the kind of people that log on there.
I would never let my child use the net unsupervised....even when he is in his teens. I plan to place the computer in a common area and my sons will never get the privacy to use it when they are young.
After pretending to be 22, imagine what kind of trouble a 9 year old can get into.....she can naively give out personal info....and get into deeper problems. Maybe your cousin is not aware of the dangers.....I think it would be nice on your part to warn her of the dangers of a 9 year old using MIRc pretending to be a 22 year old. Even the language and the style of talking will be different and imagine a child being exposed to that.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
12 Apr 08
Exactly my point! When an adult you could get into problems (through no fault of yours), imagine what can happen to a 9 year old!
I really can't imagine how your cousin lets her daughter online and especially when she knows the girl is pretending to be in her early 20s.
My 7 year old is allowed to use the internet only for e-mail and for getting info for his projects...and all this ONLY when I am with him.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
12 Apr 08
you are absolutly right and yes I know MIRC very well it was there I got my identity stolen by a lady I knew. I had a nick viki_vn ages ago and this lady that I know (her sister is married to my neighbour) started using the nick when I wasnt on line and using my info (as in age pictures and all that) and the minute I will go on line I would have lots of people talking to me as if they knew me and asking me to talk dirty. I had no idea what was going on. Untill a friend of mine went on line and started talking to "me" and realised that it wasnt me. So he set up a date and she said yes. After that I realised that she used me on other web sides and people belived it was me doing all that. I was the internet s!0t and as soon as you mentioned my nick everyone knew me.
@Amagnimo (635)
• India
1 Apr 08
Well, I would like to agree with you completely. I don't allow my 12 year old brother to sit on Internet. Infact, I have just told him not to sit over Internet, and luckily, at this age, he doesn't seem to have much interest over Computers, except for Gaming. 12 years is nearly the age when the changes would come in the body as the person enters in the Teens. And its very necessary to be careful for Teens. Specially in the age of 13s-15s! 9 yrs is definately not the age when one should be allowed the use of Internet as to say! I would stricly say no if I am consulted!
We all do know the pros and cons of Internet. For a small aged person, its definately not something that would be so helpful and its definately risking the person's thinking, as at such a tender age, the person is bound to agree what is said to them, whetther it be over Internet (and on Internet, they would agree more than agreeing to what you say, it happens so!) or whether it be you telling him/her.
Tender age is the time, when, if good thoughts or morals and such stuff is not inculcated, than its easily swearable that the person would get lost over the wrong track...
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
1 Apr 08
You are right and I agree with you. At that age kids should be playing with kids their age and learning valuable things for the rest of their lifes. Comunication and all that. If at 9 she is exposed to some things on the net then help me God what would she be learning from that.
@Amagnimo (635)
• India
1 Apr 08
Indeed, they should be playing according to their age. This is their age to enjoy and not to know about things. It seems weird to me why people like to grow up so early. They are not going to enjoy the life when they grow up the way they could have enjoyed being a child. Its no use over Internet. I repent myself coming on Internet at an early age of 13, but what could I do - I had nothing else to do, I read books and sat on PC. And I was such a nerd at PCs, I actually knew better than the people in my class. Even the people who came to fix the hardware of my PC (in case of trouble), they would go only after learning something from me about softwares. And now, after a little bit of practice and net typing - I have never gone to any Computer Classes - I have attained some level as a Computer Programmer.
I am thinking of my careers in Computers, and I am equally thinking about the Pros of Cons about this. And Internet, since it is a part of it, I am thinking of working over it, and making something which would be a safer place even for small children - it would be such a new concept, I just like the sound it, guess how much I am gonna like doing it!
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
12 Apr 08
I dont think that kids at that age should not use the computer or the internet in fact why not since I started using the net I have learned so many things imagine how much good that could bring to young kids. I had lots of friends that I wrote to so why not they can have the same with e-mails and kids chat pages. But to let them use the net without supervision expecialy when they are using adult web chats that is crazy.
@jstaubin (423)
• United States
1 Apr 08
A nine year old should not be in chat rooms there are to many dangers out there for her. And I would be alarmed if my child said that they were lieing about their age. That maes it even more dangerous. She should not be online with out a parent knowing everything that the little girl is doing.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
1 Apr 08
oh but they know what she is doing but they dont control it that is the problem. they know she is on line they know she is saying she is 22 they know which chat rooms she uses the only problem is they dont sit with her to make sure she is safe.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
1 Apr 08
Its not just the education sure she could be reading a book or something but even if she wants to use the computer she can play games, or chat to kids in other chat rooms that are age apropriate but whatever she does an adult has to be near. My nephew is 14 and he cant use the net without my sister, brother in law or another adult in the room.
