Perils of net chatting
Dawn.com
The 25-year-old American woman who came all the way from the US to Karachi to be with a man she had befriended on the Internet learnt the hard way about the perils of falling in love on the net. The hapless woman showed up at the doorstep of the man only to find out that he had failed to disclose certain important information about himself.
The woman found out that her cyber lover was married and a father of two children. The woman, who had created quite a scare in US diplomatic circles by 'disappearing' soon after reaching Karachi, has since returned heartbroken to her country. The man, meanwhile, is believed to have been deserted by his furious wife. This story illustrates perfectly the risks involved in finding love on the net.
While there have been a number of happy endings to such love affairs, there have also been as many stories of deceit, cheating and even sexual abuse. In the West, many young girls have been preyed upon by older men who befriended them by claiming to be their own age.
While the anonymity of the Internet can encourage those who are shy or isolated to make friends, it also attracts unscrupulous people who exploit others by altering their age, gender, profession or marital status at will.
The Internet offers innumerable opportunities for learning and research, but it also has a darker side to it. In Pakistan, a growing number of young people are discovering the pleasures of this medium and chatting to other young people across the globe. Parents and teachers, in particular, should inform the young about the risks involved in giving away personal information to total strangers during chat sessions. |
