Young Women at Risk

As more and more teens and kids get online, the more the digital gender gap in the US seems to be closing. In fact, when it comes to internet usage by the crucial 13-to-17 year old segment, girls have a slight lead over boys, with 73% of girls versus 70% of boys reporting online activity (Grunwald Associates, 2000). Teens and young adults also make up the largest percentage of chat room users in North America, with 16-24 year-olds making up close to 37% of the chat population (Nielsen 1999). While this shows an encouraging adoption of technology by young people, it is not without its pitfalls. The one looming largest on legislators' (and parents') minds is are the perceived twin dangers of online smut and online stalkers, and despite media hype, recent studies have shown that children and teenagers are prime targets for sexual harassment online. While teens of both genders were equally subjected to "harassment" online (bothered or threatened by someone else's online activity in a nonsexual way), a disproportionate number of unwanted sexual solicitations (via chat rooms or other instant messaging services) online were made towards girls.