With growing instances of cyber bullying, stalking, morphing, trolling, etc, students are left vulnerable to the dangers of the internet. While it is widely known that children can be victims of cybercrimes, it is often forgotten that they can also be perpetrators. Just like adults, children can use the internet to commit crimes such as hacking, DDOS attacks, ransomware attacks, cyber-bullying, fraud and identity theft, among others.
Unfortunately, these crimes often go unpunished because children are not typically held accountable for their actions in the same way that adults are. This lack of accountability can lead to a vicious cycle, especially when minors see no consequences for their actions. What appears to children as merely ‘testing their skills’, as Nappinai cautions, may actually be serious cybercrimes which may attract liability; there is a fine line between the two which must be understood and inculcated. Therefore, it is important for parents and educational institutions to implore children to imbibe cyber awareness and safety in their use of technology.
Source: Barandbench
