Double Entry Journal #11

Social-Networking Ban for Sex Offenders: Bad Call?


Questions:

• Summarize the argument made in this article.
• What evidence is presented to support the argument?
• State and justify your opinion on banning sex offenders from social-networking sites.

Answers:

• The argument made in this article is that the recent Illinois ban on social-networking sites for sex offenders shouldn't be in place. The author believes that this ban would hinder social rehabilitation for these people and that most of the people on the sex offender list aren't people who have sexually abused children anyway. 
• Larry Magid uses evidence from the Crimes Against Children Research Center and a study done by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use to explain that the amount of predators who actually contact and form relationships with children over the internet is highly exaggerated. He also uses the argument that banning sex offenders from social networking sites would hinder their ability to gain access to resources that could help them in their careers which is an important part of rehabilitation. The author also references two articles to make the point that sex offenders aren't all molesters and rapists. There is a wide category range to who can be listed as a sex offender. Magid also goes on to point out that the most dangerous sex offenders are the ones who haven't been caught and registered yet. 
• I personally agree with the author of this article. While in theory it is a good idea to limit the types of contact sex offenders can have with children, I believe it should be the responsibility of parents to know what their child is doing on the internet. I also don't think its necessary to ban some of these people who are on the sex offender list for reasons other than crimes like rape or molestation. Above all, I go back to my first point. It is the responsibility of the parent to monitor their child's internet usage. All a ban like this does is lull parents into a false sense of security. If a predator wants to get around this ban believe me, they will find a way. Parents need to teach their children about the dangers of contacting someone they don't know on the internet and how dangerous it can be to be "friends" with someone they don't know on a social networking site. Educating teens and children on the dangers of the internet should be as commonplace as teaching them to not take candy from strangers.