ABSTRACT
The Internet is a wonderful resource, and many consider it to be a life-changing technology. As with every new technology, there are opportunities both to do good and to do harm. This chapter explores some of the human threats that may arise when people interact using the Internet. The threats that exist in the digital world are in many ways similar to the threats that exist on a playground, in a lunchroom, or in a locker room. Parents allowing their children to use the Internet unsupervised should have the same conversations with their kids about online threats as they do about other common threats their children face during a normal day. The Internet creates numerous opportunities for users to create profiles, avatars, and online identities. A characteristic that makes the Internet a different place from the real world is the speed and ease with which information can be widely shared.
