Inappropriate Web Sites Not Always Obvious

Many Web sites that are considered inappropriate for children are well known to parents. Many other Web sites, however, affect more subtly the way kids think and act and can encourage unhealthy and harmful behavior.

These types of Web sites publish articles and chat rooms about some tough topics. Smoking, alcoholism and suicide are just a small sampling of serious health issues covered. But instead of helping to prevent or heal these problems, the content may show support for or promote detrimental behavior. To prevent such Web sites from driving their children's behavior, parents need to be aware of them.

Recent media attention has brought to light Web sites that discuss the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in a positive way. Known as pro-ana (pro-anorexia) and pro-mia (pro-bulimia) sites, the Web sites attract writers and readers who tend to treat eating disorders as a lifestyle choice. In contrast, medical professionals and counselors consider anorexia and bulimia as illnesses.

On pro-ana and pro-mia Web sites, visitors feel as if they've found a support system, but it is made up entirely of people suffering from the same illness. These Web sites are not recovery-oriented. Without regard to the dangers of the disease, visitors find motivation to continue negative behavior, such as learning new methods to lose weight.

A visitor to a pro-ana site may think, “Here is somebody that knows my distress, my isolation and it seems that they have all the answers as well. They can help me avoid eating, avoid going to the doctor, or if I have to go, show me how to load up with water so my weight seems ok, or load my pockets with stones to have the same effect. Now I am not alone.” (Excerpt from "Pro Anna Websites" by Steve Bloomfield, Beating Eating Disorders  .)

Children are particularly vulnerable to these types of Web sites because they lack the ability to think critically about them. They engage the Web site as a lifestyle and a way to fit it socially.

A 2006 Stanford study found that people who visited pro-eating disorder sites were admitted to hospitals more often than non-users. Also, their school work suffered greatly. Pro-eating disorder sites have come under significant criticism and, as a result, their numbers have decreased since 2003.

From depression and self-injury to obsessive-compulsive behavior, a great number of dangerous topics are discussed on the Web. Parental control software, while helpful, is not enough to block such inconspicuous but dangerous Web sites.

In addition to using parental control software to monitor their children's activities online, parents should go to and review the Web sites their kids visiting to ensure they do not promote negative behavior. Because children can access the Internet from a cell phone, a friend’s house or school, parents should also talk to their children about what Web sites are appropriate. Talking to children helps them to remember good behavior when they are away from home.

References

• Eating Disorder Sites Increase Symptoms  (The Stanford Daily)
• Pro-ana  (Wikipedia)
• Pro Anna Websites  (BEAT)

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