|
Parental Awareness and Responsibility
Karen G. Schneider, a librarian in Brunswick, N.Y., is the author of "A Practical Guide to Internet Filters." No software tool, she said, can substitute for the judgment of a parent. Ms. Schneider said parents shouldn't allow a computer -- filtered or not -- to act as an electronic babysitter. "If you wouldn't leave your child on 42d Street alone, then don't let them use the Internet alone," she said.
Remarks by President Clinton, July 1997
"We must recognize that in the end, the responsibility for our children's safety will rest largely with their parents. Cutting-edge technology and criminal prosecutions cannot substitute for responsible mothers and fathers. Parents must make the commitment to sit down with their children and learn together about the benefits and challenges of the Internet. And parents, now that the tools are available, will have to take upon themselves the responsibility of figuring out how to use them."
Enough is Enough: Lighting the way to protect children and families from the dangers of illegal Pornography and On-Line Predators
Tips for Parents to Protect Children from Internet Predators
1.Become more computer literate and Internet savvy.
2.Keep the computer in a "public" area in your house. Monitor your child's computer use. Talk with your children about their online activities and their online friends.
3.Check out parental controls available on your online service. Block adult chat rooms. Block Instant/Personal Messages from people you don't know. Install filtering/blocking software, or use a "clean Internet provider" that filters at the server level.
Rating Systems
Internet Service Providers
Morality in Media lists over 30 pro-decency internet service providers (ISPs) across the country
Self-Rating
Comments by T.J. Benoit, President of TAB Computer Systems, Inc., Bloomfield, CT and co-host of "Computer Talk with TAB" on WTIC AM 1080 - Hartford, CT.
This idea is predicated on 3 assumptions:
1. That browser software authors such as AOL, Netscape and Microsoft are willing to insert some really easy code into their product.
2. That anyone posting "adult only" material on the internet include a small HTML tag that identifies their material as having {ADULT_CONTENT}.
3. That parents become involved in what their kids are accessing on the internet, just like they are involved in what their kids watch on TV.
Age Verification
"Web Smut Standards? Age Verification May Be the Answer" Wired News, December 1996
by Bianca, mistress of an adult store online
"Unfortunately, there are no clear standards for age verification. Most adult sites do nothing more than add a gateway page that forces people to click on a link that says something like "I swear on my papa's panties
that I'm 18 or over." However, the government may not consider this anti-minor measure to be adequate defense against litigation.
Age Verification services
- Visitors must purchase a password using a credit card.
- Ownership of a credit card constitutes proof of adulthood.
- Visitors will pay $5 to $10 per year.
- Visitors gain access to all other sites using the same service.
- Web site owners earn money for each person who signs up through their site.
- Sites may sign up with several different services.
- Use of this service ensures visitors are over 18.
- Traffic may be reduced as visitors choose not to pay for a password to enter.
Other Ideas:
|
