Chapter 8: Online Youth Protection: Joint Efforts Are Needed

The Internet is an essential part of everyday life for today’s young people. Often referred to as “digital natives” (Palfrey & Gasser, 2008), today’s youth were born with readily available Internet. Their parents, however, had to learn to use the Internet after several years of socialization with nondigital media, if they use it at all. Early childhood in the virtual world of today’s Web 2.0 means growing up with possibilities to communicate and interact that have never been available before. It also means that parents and responsible adults have to take responsibility for their children’s safety in respect of new challenges.