Hyperpersonal Communication and Its Dangers

Over the years, as a society, we have become obsessed with the internet. And oftentimes, we regard it as a mecca of sorts where we can solve most of our problems. And truthfully, in my opinion it's been one of the most remarkable innovations in all of humankind. Like most things in the world, we tend to focus on the wonderful aspects of the internet, and really only see the bad whenever there is a large spread hacking that involves much of the public, or there's a scandal.


Considering how large and accessible the internet is, there's bound to be dangers hidden among the wonders, and there are. And hyperpersonal communication is one of them, and it's a very dangerous one. Before learning about this topic in class, I had no idea what hyperpersonal communication meant in terms of the internet. After learning the textbook definition, I came up with an easier one that even 3rd graders understand - stranger danger.


It's been years since I've heard that phrase used in a serious manner, but for the context in which my mom told me about it, it was about real-life strangers, and real life danger. I was told not to get in cars with anyone I didn't know, I was to always call my mom if I was running late, and "free candy" doesn't really mean free candy.


Of course I've never actually encountered a creepy van with "free candy" written on it, but because of all of the TV shows I watched, I knew that if I did, it was bad news bears. In addition to real life stranger dangers, kids are being taught not to share private information on the internet. And I hate to say it, but kids are gullible as hell. I'm sure that most (hopefully all) kids know not to get in cars with people they don't know, but kids might be more apt to share private information with a seemingly friendly stranger on the computer. If you can't see the tangible threat right in front of you, it's easy to believe that there isn't one, especially for kids.


So what do we do? Obviously we can't tell kids that the internet is dangerous place and they're never to use it, nor can we tell them the internet is a magical place, because what kid doesn't love magical places? Monitoring their online presence 24/7 is definitely out of the question, and even if you repeatedly tell your kids not to share private information, it's impossible to know if they do or not.


Obviously it's not only children that can engage in hyperpersonal communication, but it's much bigger threat for them. They don't have all the cognitive processes and the abilities needed to sense danger. Even with these abilities, elderly citizens can sometimes be tricked into sending money to someone posing as a relative in need of help.


So I guess that the concept of stranger danger should be applied both in real life and on the internet, and not just during childhood.