(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Jan. 25)

Online postings never die

United States President Barack Obama preceded an address to high school students
in Virginia last September with a warning about the reckless use of the Internet.

"Be careful what you post on Facebook," a social networking Web site in the
United States, he said. "Whatever you do, it will be pulled up later in your
life."
Juveniles who have impulsively posted articles, photos and video clips on the Web
often have a very hard time down the road, which is exactly why Obama focused on
this issue.
Korean juveniles should also heed his warning, particularly in light of several
recent instances in which locals posted outrageous clips and photos online.
Some university medical students who posted disgusting pictures of corpses on the
Web became the subject of criticism. The photos of human organs and brain matter
extracted from corpses have recently spread like wildfire on the Internet, and
the students' universities have decided to take severe disciplinary action.
Young and immature mischief-makers have caused quite a stir throughout the region
recently.
A young man equipped with swimming tubes who posted a video clip of himself
running into the road and blocking a car was charged with the obstruction of
traffic. A female student who is a fan of a Korean idol pop group publicized
online a letter written in her own menstrual blood. She has been subject to
robust criticism online and eventually offered an apology.
Such reckless behavior is considered to derive from the perverted propensity of
some members of the younger generations to "just have some fun."
These juveniles have no qualms about exposing their deviant behaviors to the rest
of the world, despite the fact the material will be easily accessible for a long
time. Juveniles should be taught in their homes and schools that unless they
correct their thinking, they will face huge difficulty in the future. The case of
Park Jae-beom, the former leader of K-pop group 2PM who was forced to leave Korea
because of a comment he made online long ago, provides a good lesson.
American universities and firms are known to examine articles on Facebook and
other Web sites during the examination process of applicants. Those who posted
inappropriate articles or photos therefore could miss out on promising job
prospects. A considerable number of domestic companies are expected to use
similar procedures.
The future of our children depends on "Internet literacy" and the well-managed
use of the Web.
(END)

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