Back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's a child's behavior was determined by his or her environment and surrounding factors. Today with the worldwide use of the computer there is unlimited access to almost anything including; social networking, groups/clubs, shopping, etc, however we must remember that the internet is not only accessible by adults but by children as well. In this article written by Jeremy Co of globalmedianews.org it is explained that there are many dangers involved with children being on the internet, including: early exposure to adult topics, and contact with unknown persons. http://wcownews.typepad.com/globalmedia/2011/10/to-much-exposure.html
Internet pornography, nudity, sex, indecency are some of the major issues and with such easy access a child can simply google something and inadvertently end up at a porno site. When children are exposed to this type of material, it is argued that it causes them to grow up too fast, children may mimic what they see, it shapes their values, attitude, and behavior.
According to Tori DeAngelis from the American Psychological Association (APA), DeAngelis also disccuses the effects of pornography on children in his 2007 article.
"Each year about 40 percent of teens and preteens visit sexually explicit sites either deliberately or accidentally, studies here and abroad show." "In one study surveying 471 Dutch teens ages 13 to 18, the researchers found that the more often young people sought out online porn, the more likely they were to have a "recreational" attitude toward sex--specifically, to view sex as a purely physical function like eating or drinking." "The Dutch team found a link between the type and explicitness of sexual media the teens saw and their tendency to view women as sexual 'play things.'"
Another argument is that the internet although, bearing access to possibly dangerous materials; isn't in fact a dangerous place for children. In this New York Times article "How Dangerous is the Internet for Children" by David Progue, it is explained that the dangers of the internet are extremely overhyped and most of the material even if it is adult material won't affect a child's behavior. Progue explains that most teenagers know better than to meet with a stranger from online and he explains that most teenagers who engage in risky behavior online already are engaging in more risky behavior offline. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/technology/personaltech/28pogue-email.html?_r=1
Does the internet in fact play a role in affecting a child's behavior, actions and attitude? You be the judge.