25. March 2010 by student.

It is very evident that we live in a very technology savvy age.  We can assess the internet not only through our computers but now new gadgets such as laptops, iPods, Video Game Consoles and Cellular phones. As every other computer literate members of society we use these devices for variety of reason such as; to make important utility payments, check our e-mails and even goofing around watching videos. However, there is a consequence of our over dependence of the internet. That consequence is Identity Theft.

Identity Theft is defined as the process of using someone else’s personal information for your own personal gain. This is a troubling problem seeing that not only is it a social problem, but also a global problem due to the fact everyone on the planet uses internet one way or the other. The statistics are also as worrying:

• Identity theft is on the rise, affecting almost 10 million victims in 2008 (a 22% increase from 2007)
• Victims are spending less money out of pocket to correct the damage from ID theft. The mean cost per victim is $500, and most victims pay nothing due to zero-liability fraud protection programs offered by their financial institutions.
• 71% of fraud happens within a week of stealing a victim’s personal data.
• Low-tech methods for stealing personal information are still the most popular for identity thieves. Stolen wallets and physical documents accounted for 43% of all identity theft, while online methods accounted for only 11%.

  There are also different types of Identity Thefts. Computer Hackers have different motives when they use personal information fraudulently.

• Credit Card fraud (26%): Credit card fraud can occur when someone acquires your credit card number and uses it to make a purchase.
• Utilities fraud (18%): Utilities are opened using the name of a child or someone who does not live at the residence. Parents desperate for water, gas, and electricity will use their child’s clean credit report to be approved for utilities.
• Bank fraud (17%): There are many forms of bank fraud, including check theft, changing the amount on a check, and ATM pass code theft.
• Employment fraud (12%): Employment fraud occurs when someone without a valid Social Security number borrows someone else’s to obtain a job.
• Loan fraud (5%): Loan fraud occurs when someone applies for a loan in your name. This can occur even if the Social Security number does not match the name exactly.
• Government fraud (9%): This type of fraud includes tax, Social Security, and driver license fraud.
• Other (13%)

In conclusion, Identity Theft is a growing social issue not only in America, but also in the rest of the world. It may not have the media attention such as other social problems like health care or immigration reform. Nonetheless it is a problem that has affects nearly ten million Americans and a total annual fraud amount of $48 billion dollars. They are effective solutions that can be implanted to prevent this social issue. Some are the use biometrics to verify their identities, eye scanning and blood vessel-scanning (blood vessels in their hands) and finger-print scanners. The drawback is not only are they expensive it will be difficult to install this safety measure in someone pc or phone.

http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/newsroom/post/2009/02/17/Javelin-Research-Identity-Fraud-Increased-22-Percent-Affecting-Nearly-Ten-Million-Americans.aspx

http://www.spendonlife.com/guide/2009-identity-theft-statistics

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25. March 2010 by student.

Is airbrushing celebrities getting out of control? Every day you see magazine covers with celebrities and models on the cover, but are these pictures portraying the real person? Most likely its not. The media has a huge influence over our self-esteem and body image. Here is some information I found interesting…

• 80% of American women are dissatisfied with how they look.
• 10% of all eating disorder patients are male and this is increasing.
• Fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women.
• A study found that 3 minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful.
• 70% of 6th graders are concerned about their weight. These are girls around 10-12 years-old!!
• More than half of girls ages 9 to 15 report exercising to lose weight.
• 42% of 1st -3rd grade girls want to be thinner. 5-8 year-olds!!
• 51% of 9-10 year-old girls feel better about themselves when on a diet. These girls should not even know about diets yet!
• The average woman sees 400 to 600 advertisements per day.
• Ten million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Seventy million people worldwide suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychological disease.
• Bulimia affects 1 to 3%of middle and high school girls.
• 9% of girls under 14 reported some form of purging behavior.
• 7.5% of the post-pubescent population meets diagnostic criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating.
• 10% of all eating disorders patients die each year

So why aren’t these magazines stopping? Industry leaders say they cannot stop re-touching photographs, because if they do, people will stop buying their magazines. They say consumers simply are not interested in seeing every flaw a person being photographed has. Photographers say that people would be shocked if they saw what the models really look like.A leading mental health body has called for warning symbols to accompany airbrushed pictures of models and celebrities to help combat eating disorders. This would raise awareness on how often manipulation takes place and can help stop people trying to achieve unattainable physical perfection. This is an issue that needs to be taken care of fast. The media is a powerful influence and there are too many people vulnerable of eating disorders.

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25. March 2010 by student.

Almost everyone who ever went to school has experience peer pressure. This pressure is put on by those who are around the same age and grade as you. Even though many people experience this type of pressure at a younger age such as middle or high school, people may still be pressured when one is older.

Peer pressure can be good or bad. When one hears  or thinks about peer pressure it is associated with negative thoughts. This type of pressure can help a person. It may push someone to complete a task or help one find themselves in life. Observing people helps one analyse themselves and make changes. Peer pressure can help a person at work by pushing themselves to move up a spot. This type of pressure can help a student get good grades or try harder at a sport to match up with some of the talented players. Peer pressure in a good light helps one look at themselves and make changes that will only help them.

Peer pressure can have a negative effect. This type of pressure makes people think that we must live in a way that is like every one else. Which makes a person think that because one likes something different that they are weird and will not fit in with society. Peer pressure makes one change views on certain subjects and make one do something that they are against.

Peer Pressure is a major problem amongst teens. At this stage many teens are experimenting and trying to find themselves. So teens will often conform themselves so one can fit in with the popular crowd. Teens will often lose their sense of identity. Teens need a lot of support from their family during these years to help one along. Families need to show their children that being different is okay and one does not need to be like everyone else to feel special.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-and-positive-effects-of-peer-pressure.html

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