The Internet: Safe for the Kids?

 

Coulter Ebbert

 

As discussed in class, when it comes to children using the internet, safety is the number one concern for parents. Risks such as contact with inappropriate strangers, lack of privacy, possible misrepresentation or mistakes and bullies give parents all the worry needed in order to search for an answer. But what are the possible solutions to this prevalent issue at hand? The article “Making the Internet Safe for Kids” by John Brandon answers such a question. Published on May 14^th 2011 on FoxNews.com, this article discusses the possible solutions to the problem of children being safe online as well as factors which act negatively towards children’s online safety.  

To begin, the article establishes two possible restrictions which could allow children to not be able to access dangerous or inappropriate web sites. The first solution suggested was the idea of using credit card numbers in order to log into certain websites or the internet in general. Though this idea would mostly eliminate the risk of kids gaining access to non-age appropriate material, its downsides outweigh the benefits. Such reasons as vulnerability of financial information and “discrimination” of those adult internet users without credit cards are just two derailing reasons of many. Where we would be fixing one problem, many more would be created. The second solution suggested was the idea of separating all of the kid friendly sites and areas on the internet from the adult-oriented content sites and social media pages. This would allow children to roam free on the kid friendly sites but be restricted from the adult user content. The one setback mentioned to this solution is the increased risk of child predators. The thought being that online child predators would focus heavily on these kid friendly areas of the internet causing children to be at greater risk.

The article goes on to discuss parent testimony, which displays the issues unrestricted access for children to browse the internet can cause. One such testimonial was the story of Dorian Lewis, who claimed to notice her middle school son’s demeanor change dramatically. Dorian goes on to explain how she would witness her son become depressed and aggravated after spending time on such sites as MySpace.com and instant chats. Concerned, Dorian investigated her son’s profile where she found that her son’s “friends” had been bullying him mercilessly, urging him to commit suicide. Dorian goes on to say that, later on, her son did in fact attempt to take his own life but was unsuccessful in his attempt. Mrs. Lewis leaves the readers with an eye opening point which explains that social media sites are a horrendous tool for bullies. She explains that such sites allow no safe haven or break for those who are victims of bullying, allowing the bullies in your home via the internet.

To sum the rest of the article up, it discusses various tools which monitor internet activity at a monetary price as well as time invested in the surveillance. There is also discussion that parents are the number one factor in children’s safety on the web. Parents who are educated and informed about the internet provide the best protection for their kid’s. The article suggests that parents only allow web use in public supervised rooms on the house in order to best avoid their children being negatively exposed. For a good read and enlightening facts and stories be sure to check out the article linked above.