Net Content Filtering

This article has me stumped... why is the Internet treated as a special case in regards to appropriate access?

 

The government as some sort of election promise has pledged to spend $190M on providing parents with the tools to filter the online content that their children are exposed to.  One Hundred And Ninety Million Dollars.  That is a lot of money for something that will not work.

 

Parents of Australia.  The Internet does contain many nasties.  It contains pornography and violence.  But those items are available on TV, Videos, DVD's and in Music.

 

You have the tools already to manage this already.  These tools are called "Your Parental Supervision".  Set your net access PC that your kids will use in the open room.  Use your relationship with your children (yes, I mean TALK to them) about the internet.  About what is there, what could be there, what they can and cannot do and if you dont know, educate yourself first before you allow them onto the net.

 

For my readers who are parents would you:

a) allow them to surf the net alone in their bedroom?

b) allow them to us MS Chat?

c) allow them to have a MySpace or a Facebook page?

d) allow them to have access to BitTorrent technology?

 

If you don't know the answer to these questions then you need to find out and you need to educate yourself before you allow your children onto the net.  It is that simple.  Be aware of what is safe and what is not.  Be mindful of your own childs emotional maturity and allow them to slowly expand their internet interaction accordingly.

Do not leave it to the Government to protect your children... it will not work.