After last night’s 60 Minutes, any parent could be forgiven for barging into their teen’s bedroom and confiscating their computer, terrified that their offspring is accessing the 90% of the hidden internet filled with hitmen, weapons and drugs. Teens everywhere are doing it apparently.

Image: “Dark Web” http://pisceanval.deviantart.com
The 60 Minutes report is available here: 60 Minutes report on The Dark Web from video.au.msn.com
Whilst parents need to be vigilant in protecting their children, this sort of scare-mongering does nothing to advance the drug debate. Parents would do better educating their kids and being aware of where the true dangers lie in illicit drug-taking: adulterated substances being sold as something else, dodgy clones of well-researched drugs, misinformation about the effects of different types of drugs and potential violence in a drug deal.
Here is an analysis of what I believe the 60 Minutes piece either got wrong, misrepresented or exaggerated: (more…)