The recent arrest of an Oakland youth charged with sexual contact with a minor raises many concerns faced by parents. Youth today have an increased maturity level as they are introduced to adult subject matter at a much younger age, and in contradiction they also confront what is often described as an extended adolescence. Past generations shouldered more substantial burdens, such as career and familial responsibilities, at a younger age; but today youth, while appearing more informed and cognizant of worldly topics, often exhibit a greater immaturity in their personal lives.
The social revolution of the 1960s is still considered the age of radicalism by those who lived through the era; but, it pales in comparison to the society we live in today. John Lennon and Yoko Ono appearing nude in 1968 has the jolt of decaffeinated tea in comparison to the constant bombardment of images propagated in mass media and the Internet. Youth today are also far more advanced in the area of “free expression” so popular with youth in the 60s and 70s. Today, a tour of one of many social networking sites will find plenty of subscribers spending the facts of their life like small change on strangers; and even more unsettling is when make-believe personas morph into real world dilemmas.
The major impact the Internet plays in the developing lives of young Americans is undeniable, but assessing blame to it for negative influences is irresponsible. The Journal previously reported that parental involvement in the online world of their children is the surest mechanism for providing guidance and safety. That article focused on safety for younger children in terms of sexual predators, but the recent arrest opens up other avenues of discussion.
The freedom of expression enjoyed by people today on a variety of platforms, and the immediacy of instant communication, provide opportunity for fleeting thoughts to take root in reality. Expressions of depression, anger, or matters of a sexual nature which were once only whispered amongst friends are now posted freely. This new avenue for communication can be beneficial in the context of a support forum, but without guidance it can be dangerous. As many young people act out online personas, the continual documentation of negative or dangerous communication, the building of an historical record of angst, falsities, and irresponsibility begins to solidify itself as the primary reality.
In researching the local arrest, it was noticeable that the many teens who share the same network of friends had two similar patterns. Those who accessed their sites most regularly were more likely to express feelings of discontent in their lives; while those logging in with less frequency appeared to reflect the thoughts of individuals with a greater sense of emotional stability. There is no definitive research that can state a cause and effect since the need for an emotional support system might increase the need for online communication; but it might be assumed that less frequent users have an emotional support system based on face-to-face communication rather than an online community.
There has been no indication from law enforcement that the relationship between the suspect and the victim involved any online communications. But there undoubtedly exists a reservoir of documentation which will eventually provide greater insight into the unfortunate set of circumstances. Overall sympathy resides with the victim whose actual age is significantly younger than the arrested youth, but the seriousness of the consequences for both are worthy of consideration. Conviction involving a sexual offense carries with it the possibility of prison and life long registration requirements. State legislatures being lobbied by those seeking to provide a second chance to young offenders are also faced with whether to comply with a new federal registry which would include offenders as young as fourteen years old.
As mentioned, the public facts on this case involving sexual contact with a minor do not include any reference to social networking sites at this point. The reporting of this event is to serve as a reminder to parents that youth in the community who may appear detached in face-to-face communication, may be finding connections elsewhere. Those with emotional issues are even more vulnerable, as they may be finding support from a community not capable of offering the responsible guidance available from adults who have learned from their own mistakes.