The Government has taken an active role in making resources for parents and children to learn about cyberethics.  This is a growing problem and without parents and teachers using the resources available nothing can be done to prepare future generations on internet users from being safe online.  The main issues that surround cyberethics are: Copyright/Downloading, Hacking and Cyberbullying.  These three issues are increasing daily and mostly due to children using the internet improperly.

 Copyright/Downloading

This has become a major problem due to programs like Napster and LimeWire which allow users to download music, programs and videos for free. Many people, especially children, do not realize that this behavior has major consequences.

 Hacking:

Is the intentional damage that a person inflicts onto another computer or computer network.  This can include stealing classified information, stealing passwords to get into a site and also changing a website without permission.  Since the world is run on computers it is important that hackers are stopped.  They could create viruses that could shut down important websites or computer systems. Cybercitizenship.org gives a chilling example:  "If a virus were to disable the computer network of a hospital, it could shut down medical instrumentation systems that control life support and monitoring functions-all of which could cost a patient his or her life."  Children need to be aware of these extreme consequences.

 Cyberbullying:

Bullying does not only happen in real life anymore.  Cyberbullying is growing and people are becoming aware of its effects on children.  The Megan Meier case shed light on this issue that was thought of by many people as harmless bullying. This teenage girl was bullied on the internet through e-mail and myspace which is said to ultimately lead to her suicide.

 For more: Cybersecurity