-
Mid-1990s: The Emergence of Chat Rooms and Online Predators
AOL and Internet Chat Rooms: The popularity of AOL and similar services leads to the rise of chat rooms, where children often encounter online predators posing as peers. -
2000: Implementation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
COPPA: The U.S. enacts COPPA to protect the privacy of children under 13 by regulating the online collection of personal information. -
2004: The Case of Justin Berry
Justin Berry: A 13-year-old boy who was groomed and exploited online through webcam services, bringing attention to the issue of child exploitation via the internet. -
Late 2000s
2006: Megan Meier Cyberbullying Incident
Megan Meier: A 13-year-old girl who committed suicide after being cyberbullied on MySpace, leading to increased awareness of the impact of cyberbullying on youth. 2009: The "Sexting" Phenomenon
Sexting: The widespread occurrence of teens sending explicit photos via mobile phones, resulting in legal consequences and public awareness campaigns. -
Early 2010s
2010: Introduction of Parental Control Software
Parental Control Software: Software designed to help parents monitor and restrict their children's online activities becomes more sophisticated and widely used. 2012: Amanda Todd Cyberbullying and Sextortion Case
Amanda Todd: A 15-year-old girl from Canada who was a victim of cyberbullying and sextortion, leading to her suicide and sparking international dialogue on online safety.