The Young'uns are Annoyed

To follow-up on Alexandra's recent blog, check out the latest from CNN: it's a story about young people bombarded by porn, and why they're getting sick of it.

"It's so common now, who hasn't seen something like that?" said Emily Duhovny, 17.

The Marlboro, New Jersey, high school senior said X-rated images pop up all the time when she's online. Duhovny said the first time she saw one, it was shocking, but now, "more than anything, it's just annoying."

What can we do to protect kids online?

Comments

[SCW]

If they're at the point where they find such images merely "annoying", what exactly do they need protection from? Banality?

[Mandi]

I have netmop on my computer and LOVE IT! It is also secure in that there is no chance one of my children could bypass it (like so many other filters). It always blocks porn, adult material, and recreational nudity -- but then I have the option of blocking cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, lingerie, singles ads, forums/communities, etc. I have 4 boys and I'm trying my hardest to protect their young eyes.

[wendy]

Exactly. The worst thing is for sex to be banal, to get desensitized, and not all kids are at that point, thankfully, so let's do what we can to make sure they don't get there.

[Liz Neville]

SCW-- I detect a yawn in your comment. I take it you would not agree that finding graphic images "annoying" (or, at minimum, finding it necessary to describe your disgust thus so as not to appear uncool) is problematic for these kids?

[EPC]

Go to opera.com and download opera. It's a free internet browser and you can choose to block ups. I never get any. It's also easier to use in general than explorer.

[Emily]

One of the best things you can do is simply have the computer out in the family areas of the house, rather than in bedrooms so you can keep an eye out. There's other things besides inappropriate pictorial things they could see.

[Phillip Flores]

+1 to Emily's comment. We have two computers at home which the children can use. One has broadband internet access and the other one is just for their CD-based games. These computers are in the common room of the house. The PC that is connected to the internet has a password. The children have to ask if they can use the internet and we always ask for what purpose. We make sure that they use the internet only for the purpose they told us.

I also have blocked certain social networking sites e.g. myspace, orkut, bebo from my router. We also make sure that they get most of their entertainment somewhere else i.e. by getting them appropriate books, videos, and board games. We tell them that the internet is more for information rather than entertainment.

Also, I think with my wife and I using the internet mainly for work purposes rather than entertainment helps a lot.

[Paul Clutterbuck]

Covenant Eyes is internet filtering software that also monitors adults who use the Internet, and emails your accountability partner with a list of all the websites you've visited. Sites are graded as to adult content depending on the sorts of words used on the site, as well as the URLs of sites they link to, and the URLs of sites that link to them. The grading is provided to your accountability partner as a number, with numbers over 100 being most suspect as to their adult content. If you or your partner want to use the Internet constructively without the distraction (or worse) of adult sites, while also protecting your children, then Covenant Eyes should be your next stop.