The Darkness Behind the Web | Yara Jegham | TEDxYouth@AISR

The internet, a vast platform for learning and entertainment, also presents significant dangers, particularly for teens who spend an average of 5.5 hours online daily, often without parental controls. Online challenges, like the dangerous Tide Pod challenge, highlight how peer pressure and social media can turn risky behavior into viral trends, despite awareness of harm. The pursuit of likes and views can overshadow personal safety. Social media often portrays an unrealistic, filtered reality, leading to negative self-perception. It's crucial to remember that online perfection is rarely genuine, and real life is inherently imperfect. Cyberbullying affects 15% of school-aged children, causing severe emotional distress, depression, and even school changes. Victims should seek help from trusted adults. Gaming platforms like Roblox pose risks from strangers who might try to extract personal information. Never share details like your address or school. Deepfakes, created with AI, can imitate voices and faces, making it difficult to discern real from fake calls. A family code word can help verify callers. To stay safe online, use the "SMART" approach: Stop and think before acting on risky content; Mind your information, never sharing personal data; Alert your parents if something feels wrong; Respect others, avoiding hurtful words; and Touch grass, encouraging offline activities. The internet is valuable, but smart usage is key.