Susceptibility of the Filipino Youth to Internet Prostitution

Abstract

The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. And if we are to ensure a bright future, we have to protect our youth. It is on this premise that this paper on the susceptibility of Filipino youth to internet prostitution is written. Internet prostitution is a relatively new issue in the Philippines. It has come about with the growth of the internet and globalization in the country. Ready access to the Internet is a big factor to the susceptibility of young Filipinos to this kind of prostitution. The computerization and the increased internet usage the young generation increase both the risk and benefits. Today’s Filipino youth are without a doubt very much into the internet trend. Internet access has already become a necessity for the majority. Students use it for research, communication, and leisure. Internet has become part of students’ lives. However, with this very permissive condition of internet use among the youth, it is likewise consequent that some people take advantage. The internet is just much like the real world. There are good and bad virtual people. There are safe and dangerous virtual places. Now, with the youth freely surfing the internet, it is a sad inevitable truth that they could also be taken advantage of. The internet is an uncontrollable space. Hence, to safeguard the youth from the harms the internet poses, it is in this research’s concern to discuss the primary role that the society plays. Sexual exploitation, particularly prostitution has been an uncontrollable issue. Efforts have been made left and right to mitigate it and yet it still prevails. Likewise, as its very nature, the internet can not be controlled. However, these truths do not imply that nothing can be done. It does not imply that since it cannot be controlled, it should be left alone. The sex industry and the internet may be uncontrollable but the real people around us are. The society has much say on how the youth will become. The society plays a major part in educating the children; and providing them a healthy environment with laws and enforcers around. The study provides a brief background on internet prostitution and an analysis of the efforts to mitigate it. There are a number of laws present in the Philippines but no particular law deals with internet prostitution. The absence of a specific legal safeguard makes internet prostitution so easy to get away from. Internet prostitution is a reality, and the involvement of Filipino youth to internet prostitution is likewise a reality. Having proven the reality of youth involvement in internet prostitution, the study goes further into the recommendation of pursuing further studies.