User:BronwynRees

Contents 1 Bronwyn Rees 1.1 QUT Student 1.2 Casual Employee 1.3 New Media Interest 1.3.1 Project Proposal 1.3.2 Final Project 1.4 Annotated Bibliography. Internet Child Abuse - Linking inappropriate content, child pornography and sexual assault 1.4.1 (1) 1.4.2 (2) 1.4.3 (3) 1.4.4 (4) 1.4.5 (5) 1.4.6 (6) 1.4.7 (7) 1.4.8 (8) 1.5 ****

Bronwyn Rees

QUT Student

I am in my second year of my dual degree : Bachelor of Journalism, Bachelor of Laws.

Casual Employee

I work two casual jobs. I am a child care assistant and a stewardess at a major sports facility.

New Media Interest

I am interested in studying legal issues concerned with new media's evolution, particularly regarding online content rating. I will research legislative approaches from a public international law perspective.

---

BronwynRees 16:27, 28 Jul 2004 (EST)

send Bronwyn Rees an email

Project Proposal

childrens health proposal

Final Project

childrens health

[edit] Annotated Bibliography. Internet Child Abuse - Linking inappropriate content, child pornography and sexual assault

(1)

Arnaldo, Carlos A. (Ed.) (2001) Child Abuse on the Internet : Ending the Silence, Paris, France. : United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, ISBN 1571812466.

Arnaldo has assembled a collage of writings on the unsavoury and emotive issue of online child abuse. By providing various views on the grizzly crime, he has attempted to unveil some raw truths (thus, the title Ending the Silence). The value of this source is that it is a collaboration of articles from almost thirty authors. Each piece focuses on a different aspect of internet crime, and each comes from the signature ethical and social standpoint of its author.

Each section presents as a walk-through of this sinister topic. Part one is a global glimpse, taking the reader to the countries where internet child-corruption thrives. Using this resource will add perspective and depth to the final piece. Also, the text questions whether any form of policing could be implemented to reduce the number of incidents occurring. Some of the authors attempt to define key terms such as "child pornography" and "Paedophilia", indicating the book's rudimentary level. In many ways, a basic understaning is vital to establish a grip on the topic. For that reason, Arnaldo (2001) is likely to be the first point of consultation when notes are being compiled.

Any book that presents itself as being so comprehensive is a gem among sources, and I anticipate using this text to its full advantage when realising my research project.

BronwynRees 15:28, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

(2)

Caught in The Net (1997) Written, directed and edited by David Tennant. Quebec : National Film Board of Canada. [video recording]

This is an interesting source, which is aimed at children above the age of twelve. Although its duration is only 13 minutes, and despite that it was created overseas, it is still a poignant resource.

The film presents view of an adolescent. In the articles I've come across in the past, parents of victims claim to have been unaware of their childrens' net presence. The film creates a bridge between the logical thinking adult mind and the impulsive and naive adolescent mind.

It also provokes deeper thought about the issue. It is possible that seven years ago when the film was made, only teenagers were affected by Internet danger. Presently, Internet criminals focus on younger children who are not up to speed with 'net-savvy'. This may be worth a mention in my final piece.

Although I do not believe the film contained any quotable material, it has proved useful when evaluating all other sources that were aimed at an adult readership. It also struck a major point of concern: There is no Australian equivalent available, and the copy I obtained was one of very few circulating in Brisbane.

Overall, the video was by far the best background source discovered, due to its ability to create perspective and understanding for the viewpoint most important, and yet least appreciated: the victim's.

BronwynRees 21:32, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)

(3)

Dixon, Nicolee (Introduction. (2002)Catching 'Cyber Predators': the Sexual Offences (Protection of Children) Amendment Bill 2002 (Qld) Queensland Parliamentary Library http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Parlib/Publications_pdfs/books/2002035.pdf 1/8/2004view this e-source now!

This source forms part of the legal research required to gain a holistic concept of the issue. It is a research briefing on a proposed amendment to the state legislation. The amendments were incorporated for the 2003 reprint of the Act.

The reason this background paper is important is that it provides an understanding of the necessity of the changes, in laypersons' terms. It also gives perspective on how rapidly the dangers of Internet crimes against children can re-emerge disguided (some Acts are altered only once every two or three decades, while this area of the law requires constant change).

Possibly the best attribute this source contains is its appendix of relevant newspaper articles. These would be difficult to locate separately, and although they are not as recent as I would expect to include in my project, they will give insight into the reasoning for the legislative change at the time.

This source was a great find, as it is both local, (reasonably) current, and discusses the laws of Queensland relating specifically to the topic.

BronwynRees 15:28, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

(4)

Levine, Madeline. (1998) See No Evil New York. : Doubleday, ISBN 0787943479

This book is different to all other sources listed, in that it offers advice to parents, rather than teachers. It is also more broad : published before Internet child abuse became world-renound, it focuses on other media, namely television.

Despite that the text isn't narrowly aimed at Internet, it was still considered vital in research. The book covers for gaps in other sources, such as the youngest groups of children, aged from three to eight. It will be a back up resource for when none of the others can be used.

Also, some of the views expressed by Levine appear to be potentially controversial. Her view is that while young children need protection from illicit material, adolescents (which she groups from fifteen to eighteen years of age) need as much stimulation through media as they can get. It is her belief that media accustoms children into the reality of life.

The book offers a fresh view of abuse of children. While other texts blame sexual and violent images as being corrupting factors, Levine blames the stereotypical teenage personality that the media conveys as being a true representation.

Although it is excellent to gain insight into differing opinions, I think that Levine's perception of 'child abuse' is off the mark. When there are children being stalked and molested, I don't think that conformity is a consideration.

Still, some of the sections about young children seem to have credibility, especially as they are often left out of the discussion.

BronwynRees 15:28, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

(5)

Naismith, Deborah M. (1996) "Predicting attitudes toward censorship of pornography and violence on the Internet," Grad dip thesis, Griffith University

A point of interest in this source for me was that at the time it was written, I was an eleven year old child, discovering the internet, and therefore, was at the very heart of this topical subject.

The reason this source is valuable is that it was written in Australia, and the information provided was collated from a sample of Australians who were surveyed. It shows the reasons WHY children are exposed to pornography and violence online. Some variables offered are: time spent online, religious and cultural backgrounds, age and gender.

As always, a source that offers something diverse from others is going to be advantageous and utilised appropriately. This thesis offers a more statistical approach to the issue, and disposes of any emotional attachment. It also ties together various media, and explains why the Internet is the ultimate medium, containing attributes (positive and negative) of all other media.

BronwynRees 15:29, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

(6)

Sexual Offences (Protection of Children) Act 2003 (Qld)(paper form)

This will be the source most relied upon to clarify many questions which may arise in the research stage.

These may include :

-What does the law say? What are children’s rights?

-What are the actual crimes against children?

-What sentences do these crime impose upon criminals?

I anticipate it will be bland to read through, but a useful text to rely upon. It will provide the strict legal principles Queensland has implemented, and will give a local (therefore, relevant) theory to apply to other sources created overseas.

BronwynRees 21:36, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)

(7)

Thornburgh, Dick and Lin, Herbert S. (Ed) (2002) Youth, Pornography, and the Internet, Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, ISBN 0309082749.

Although this book was published in the United States, it still covers many relevant issues that (so far) Australian writers have failed to address. As the Internet is such a global technology, this source will be as generically useful as any homegrown contender yet to be published on our shores could be.

Here is probably the most suitable place to mention that preliminary research has exposed an urgent requisite of more Australian texts on children's safety online. There is a growing need for better education. Arguably, the very reason we elect parliamentarians is for them to legislate; to create law to define crimes and punishments. This will be explored more finely.

The best aspect of this text is that it catalyses self-questioning. It is a substantial book, and focuses less on the theory of child abuse, and more on the reasons behind it. For example, it offers that the revenue raised by the adult online entertainment industry is largely influential in its existence, and the care given to restricting minor's use is a secondary consideration. This could be an interesting path to specialise in for the final project. Many other though provoking issues are also raised, and could definitely be looked further into.

The book paints the Internet as a wonderful and worrying instrument, and as a new commodity readily available for offenders to exploit. It offers a varied slant on the issue, and will be used moderately within my research.

BronwynRees 15:28, 9 Aug 2004 (EST)

(8)

(2001) Growing up with the Internet Cybersmart Kids Online http://www.cybersmartkids.com.au/parents/general/ 11/8/2004 take me there!

This website, although slightly under-informative, provides to me a different perspective. Other sources have exposed how children view the Internet and also how their teachers do, but their own parents perspective is somewhat neglected.

It also details the different developmental stages of children, and how much parents should be involved during each stage to educate and protect their children.

BronwynRees 21:58, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)

****

The sources I chose to include in this annotated bibliography were chosen because of their variety and what they could each bring to my project. Many other sources perused presented generic information, and failed to deviate substantially enough from each other to be worth inclusion.

However, one thing these sources had in common was their ability to make me question, and to crave for a deeper understanding of the topic. This could influence which direction the major project takes, and was the test to determine the better sources from the lease helpful.

BronwynRees 22:03, 12 Aug 2004 (EST)