Examining the Relationships Between Youths’ Online Activities and Different Types of Online Dangers
Abstract: Aimed at creating a dialogue between educators, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in effective cyber awareness interventions and training, this study examined everyday online activities in the context of common types of online dangers. The findings revealed that the 1,092 participating South Korean students did not spend an exorbitant amount of time online, were largely interested in the use of everyday technology for leisure purposes and showed exposure rates to online dangers similar to those reported in the literature, but their exposure to sexually explicit material (SEM) and online bullying was statistically significant compared to the everyday online activities examined. All in all, the findings suggest that while other types of dangers, such as exposure to violent material, malware, phishing scams, and identity theft are no doubt important threats facing today’s youth, SEM and cyberbullying are particularly troubling, and should be emphasized in cyber education.