| Monday, February 26, 2007 |
| Protecting our Children on the Net |
 I was tagged by Practical Chick who was tagged by Dari Donovan to participate in Project Blogger Power. Blogger Power is a campaign to safeguard the internet for children from pornography.
It's not a campaign against porn, nor does it want to restrict free speech or artistic expression. This is simply a common sense request to get the adult web site webmasters a shout to employ a little responsibility and understanding. To meet concerned parents half-way on providing password protected logins for explicit material, no more free clips, free tours or free pics and asking them to actively support and sign up for .xxx domains when available.
So without further adieu:
A Request To All Webmasters Of Adult Sites:
"Please require a password-protected login before allowing even free access to explicit adult content. We understand that selling porn is your business and we respect your right to make a legal living. But understand our legitimate concerns and work with us. You already have the “warning adult content” on your websites. Yet kids, who are not legal customers of your product, ignore the warning. So to prevent them from having direct access to explicit images, texts and sounds, the simplest way is to have a password-protected login. No more “free tours” before a visitor supplies basic information."
My Advice To All Parents:
If it has happened to you, as I'm sure it has - porn advertising in your email inbox or accidentally stumbling upon a site that wasn't what you thought it was - it WILL also happen to your children while online. Particularly if adult sites remain irresponsible by allowing anonymous sneak peeks and promotions. Here are five ways that I will try to implement concerning Squirt and her internet use when the time comes.
1. Trying to be there at all times so that when it does happen, we can have one of the many talks Moms tend to have with their children about such matters. There are ways to restrict internet access on your home PC by password so your child can still use MS Word or other software offline for homework assignments.
2. Downloading a Net Nanny type of filter to screen sites for explicit material.
3. Establishing an alpha-numeric email address when the time comes as well as employing any other techniques to counter spam. I may even go as far as having her email activities done only on my computer so I can monitor them.
4. When the time comes she can blog, but I will not allow her to use Myspace. We will talk about the dangers of social networking and I will insist on anonymity with no sharing personal information as in location, photos, real names of either people or places. She will have to employ creativity in which I highly would encourage anyway and insist on editing before she publishes.
5. Internet pornography isn't something our parents had to worry about but it is inevitable for us. Be honest and be fair. You may remember the days when Playboy Rags were sold behind the counter of the 7-11, or when cigarettes were sold out of vending machines. You may also remember how more curious you were over a thing when it was kept such a big secret. If it's a big secret than it must be a big deal. So be cool, it is a big deal but be honest about it. Answer their questions, discuss things that may have happened. Soon, to a kid it won't be such a big deal anymore. Just a stupid annoying internet thing.
I am supposed to tag 20 other bloggers. I could tag only three like Practical Chick has, but I'm very afraid of tagging people now. The last time I did I disrupted Dr. John so much that he posted my tag instead of posting the meaning of life and I've been wandering around confused and without direction ever since.
If you feel moved to do so take a peek at Project Blogger Power than go ahead and run with the torch to make a difference. Thanks!Labels: Information Technology |
Stumble It!
.......posted by Margaret @ 8:49 AM   |
|
| 7 Comments: |
-
I guess I'm an outlier. I've never accidentally come across a porn site on the Internets. My only issue is often times while researching on The Google, you need to turn off SafeSearch to get good results, but practically anything you search for will turn up porn.
-
I think this is a great blog and it will show up on my Friday odds and ends. You have done a far better job than I could. I am so glad my kids didn't have this problem/
-
I think the simplest way to do it is with a v-chip like ratings system. If an adult site is governed by a section of United States Code (the one that makes adult-oriented sites verify age of models/actors), they would have to embed a slice of code on their homepage (and all others).
Doesn't seem like it'd be too hard to set up.
-
Woozie: You're kidding me? You never clicked on something and had browser locking pop ups of porn by accident? Well, I guess now they have pop up blockers, adaware and things to prevent it.. but a few years ago... ugh!
Dr. John: Thanks! It's a good cause and hoping it works. Katie is only four now but there are so many things that I have to worry about that my parents didn't.
Karlos: v-chip type coding is a great idea and fair for even those who want to surf free porn.
-
:):)thank you for the info
-
You are right. You can't even Google "horny slut dumping" anymore, without coming across at least one adult themed site.
-
CJ Sorg told me recently that there's talk of the FCC or some regulatory agency pushing to get a new generalized domain, ".xxx" (as opposed to .com, .net, .org, .gov, etc...), and one would assume that they would do that correspondingly with software and computer developers and manufacturers, in order to provide parents with an option to block the entire domain!
... I never followed up personally, though, 'cause I have no kids.
yup, that's right.
the only thing I ever gave birth to was
aFCCDELETED FCCDELETED FCCDELETED FCCDELETED FCCDELETED FCCDELETEDFCCDELE
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
| |
|
|
I guess I'm an outlier. I've never accidentally come across a porn site on the Internets. My only issue is often times while researching on The Google, you need to turn off SafeSearch to get good results, but practically anything you search for will turn up porn.