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by Andrew Willson

Created on: June 29, 2009   Last Updated: May 11, 2010

The answer to the question of whether or not children today are more likely to learn how to hack is a simple, yes. Today there are programs, websites and communities swarming the Internet that invite people to hack and to benefit from hacking. Armed with the vast amount of information made available today anyone with an interest in customization or a desire to use existing software for their purposes, from the philosophical or political to the profitable, has much easier access than in previous days. While access to information does not guarantee that people will take advantage of it, the sheer availability nearly does.

The first and foremost thing to keep in mind about hacking is that it is often confused with cracking. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the fourth definition of hacker is, "a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system." This definition is more accurately applied to a "cracker." The third definition of hacker, "an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer," is the more accurate usage.

Assuming this definition, it is easy to see that anyone who uses information they learned on-line or acquired through experience to increase efficacy or increase their enjoyment of the computers or software they use, is a hacker. This fact by itself makes the likelihood of children becoming hackers nearly certain. A very accessible and simple example is MySpace. Traditionally one might not see the customization of MySpace as hacking but the ability of people to design smaller programs that run through the site means that anyone who wishes to extend the ability of the site can do so. One popular example is the growing industry of bands offering music downloads and albums through the site, allowing the more tech savvy bands to greatly extend their audience and influence. This most certainly, is hacking. Facebook allows similar extensions, in fact it is the programs that people run within Facebook that provides the brunt of its customization. This has grown to be a bedrock of social networking sites.

Beyond social networking, or perhaps encompassing it, we have the "Apps" that people can purchase or make for use through smart phones. "Apps" or applications are programs created to allow the user of the phone to do any number of tasks, such as checking the weather, finding a restaurant, chatting with friends, etc. The iPhone is the most popular example of a smart phone at this time and it offers "Apps" though a store where people can either offer these programs for free or at a charge. The important thing to note while thinking on "Apps" is that, in the case of the iPhone, Apple releases the required information for anyone who wishes to program "Apps." Therefore, not only are people given the ability and the nod to hack, they are provided with tools by the owner in addition to the help available online.

The three previous examples in essence, are limited. All three are owned and controlled directly by their companies. In opposition is Open Source or Free software. One of the largest groups offering these is the Free Software Foundation. They begin their description of themselves, "The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs." This plays directly into the hands of those who wish to hack. This foundation is working to make hacking more accessible and in the end more acceptable until it is expected.

In many ways the Internet and the advent of sites like Wikipedia, Fixya, Lifehacker, About.com and the myriad of blogs and forums available on every subject make the information needed to hack, ubiquitously available. Once again the availability of the information doesn't mean that people will hack, but making our lives more comfortable, is human nature. It follows that, with human nature and the relative ease of hacking that people; especially the extremely tech savvy children today who do not go anywhere without their iPods and phones, who are growing used to having a nearly infinite supply of information available at any time, will capitalize on this opportunity. As the older generations can recall working on old cars, hacking them, this current generation will remember all the tweaking and toying they did with computers and programs.

Considering the current near ubiquity of both information and technology and that it appears to be moving forward at a breakneck pace; the current group of children are very likely to become hackers and their children may be guaranteed to be hackers.

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