[Discuss] protecting kids online

[kentborg at borg.org (Kent Borg)]

On 02/06/2014 09:48 AM, Eric Chadbourne wrote:
 > We're talking about preteens. Children.
 > [...]
 > Such as the girls frequently do searches for various princesses and 
the like and print them out. Use it for coloring and paper dolls.

Possibly they shouldn't be doing any Google searches at all. Seriously.  
Have an adult help them when they want more stuff.

I did suggest that the multi-user feature of Android tablets could be 
useful.  Set up an account for the girl, and put a safe "toy" (app) or 
two in the tablet.  But first learn about the app to see if it is good.  
(Who knows what is in there?  *Is* it benign?) And only add more stuff 
bit-by-bit.

I guess my big point is that the internet *is* a dangerous place. You 
can't give it to a little kid with some content-blocking safety-blinders 
on it and think that will work.  Give them a little technology at at 
time and as more dangerous bits are added educate them on how to handle 
it (and their parent(s) will have to learn, too).  As they get more 
savvy, let them use more dangerous stuff.  But don't think that a web 
block will do it.

On the gun analogy: Guns are dangerous for kids, so yes, lock up the 
guns.  Don't try to apply technology to make them safe to use.

And as these kids are going to be using more and more dangerous stuff, 
their parent(s) have to be at least keeping up--if not learning ahead of 
them.

Yes, I am big free-speech type person, too.  But that doesn't mean that 
parents shouldn't participate and be in control and put on limits.  
Limits are good.  I just don't think a content filter is a good way.  
(Hell, I dislike firewalls, too.  For pretty much the same reasons.)


-kb, the Kent who repeats that he can talk big like this because he has 
no children.