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Is Facebook making our kids violent?
- Article from:
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Review - Institute of Public Affairs
- Article date:
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September 1, 2008
- Author:
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Copyright informationCopyright Institute of Public Affairs Sep 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Moral panic is never too far away from the Australian media.
The widespread claims that the internet is corrupting youth and encouraging violent behaviour completely misunderstands technology, the people who use it and the nature of crime itself.
In July The Australian reported that Australia was facing a 'Facebook and YouTube ... crimewave'. According to a Griffith University academic, police statistics show that violent crimes amongst young people are on the rise.
Indeed, as The Australian noted, violent crimes such as homicide, assault, sexual offences and robbery committed by those aged between 10 and 19 in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia have risen from 17,944 in 1996-7 ...