The above is one of the main themes of  research which was recently conducted in Finland. Mika Joensuu has worked with youngsters aged between 13 and 15 in the greater Helsinki area and has asked them about their Internet usage. He also followed how youngsters assimilate chat language and friendship contacts acquired through the internet in their so called real life, creating an environment where the internet plays an important role.

The internet is an extension of young people’s every day social life. There is an opportunity for youth workers to use internet as a tool and see Internet safety in a positive way. The point Joensuu underlines is that peer interaction amongst young people in the internet is risky because of adult absence for life experience and support.

Preferring spending time with their peers is of course a normal stage of young persons’ evolution. Youth workers are able to understand and help when needed in net-life too. Using the internet is the most natural thing for this age group that can probably not even imagine a world without it.

According to Joensuu young people mainly have internet contacts with friends they already know.  We have realised the same in the last four years of internet safety work at “Save the Children Finland”. However, we need to be aware of the danger existing for people with modest communication skills: becoming dependent on internet-based social life, and even stumbling into risky situations in the quest of company and entertainment with anonymous people & total strangers.