What if the internet were age restricted?

Beverly Level X³

July 12, 2016, 1:02 pm

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What if the internet were age restricted?

I'm sure it would never happen, but what if 'government' legally limited access to the internet to adults, such as people over a certain age. Most websites already have a minimum age for users allowed to access that site, so this would just be one more step in that direction. Possibly access to the internet would be allowed with some type of ID such as an eye-print or thumb print, so essentially anyone logging on would be tracked, cataloged and responsible for whoever/whatever was done. And, if an adult login was used to allow a child online, then that adult would possibly face consequences.

And, I know that a person's Internet Service Provider can record all internet activity and turn that over to local authorities/FBI if required, but many don't police a users activities, even when a child is the one using the internet.

I'm not for 'big brother' intrusion into lives, but there are a lot of afk parents in the world who could care less what their kids do online or even who they talk to and that can lead to bad places.

If there's not already some limitations by government on child usage of internet, possibly there should be for their own safety?

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TommyCarey

TommyCarey

There are already settings in place to prevent certain computers, and phones, from browsing types of websites. You can set it up so that your child can't browse porn and gambling websites in these settings. The only problem is that not many parents know how to do this, or even care to set it up because their child is "an angel" lol.

When my daughter is online I usually monitor what she's doing. Normally she's just on YouTube watching those dumb shopkins videos that makes me want to rip my hair out, but there are chances she could stumble upon some less than great videos on YouTube. When she's on her iPad I usually monitor what she's doing as well, but again she's normally just watching those horrible videos lol.

I'm much more tech savvy than the normal person, and even I don't set up the filters to exclude websites from a browser

I know, I know. I should be the first person to do it, but I always forget to do it. She's never landed on a bad website by typing in the wrong URL into the address bar because I make shortcuts on the computer so she can just click to open, and on her iPad there are apps that make the shortcuts for me. I don't think she's ever gone onto Google, Yahoo! or Bing and actually typed in something to search for it. It is frightening to think that my little girl can stumble onto these horrible websites, but she's not usually online.

She is a fan of Netflix, and I set up her profile so she would only see childrens shows and not randomly start watching Fight Club or Boondock Saints

8 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

Thanks for your response. It's definitely age dependent as to what they can do. When mine was six or seven, I could set up those awesome parental filters on the browser and she could not bypass them. Then at some point, she figured out there were other browsers on the computer than Chrome and started using those. She'd wait till i was in the kitchen or out of room and just go to town on that. And, when I disabled those browsers, she downloaded and installed a browser to get to watch Youtube. I don't think Youtube is bad in and of itself, but a lot of grown up people there. For the most part, I have always encouraged her to watch the educational content on YouTube, lots of great teaching videos, documentaries, but also some inappropriate content and it's always a click away in the side bar. Another thing to watch for, some weirdo was posting links to inappropriate sites in the description area of children videos on Youtube. I found and reported and blocked the sites from our browsers, but I bet they are still out there doing it. :/

Mine is into Netflix too, most recently Supernatural, which I guess is more appropriate for someone her age than a younger child. I still think it's a little too gory but apparently it's on par with some horror games teens play. The only thing I don't like is that Netflix doesn't have better parental filters for time management - we used the child version of Netflix for a long time - but now she's grown out of the kiddie shows and wanting to watch real TV, it's a constant struggle to get her to focus on real life/homework/learning and family. I need a way to make Netflix cut off on the computer after say an hour. If I can find a way to do that, we'll be good!

8 years ago

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hitmeasap

hitmeasap

Age restrictions will probably come in a few years.. I'm certain of it. Too much shit happens to kids due to their online chatting with pedophiles and disgusting things like that. Kids are being bullied, they spread nonsense and edited photos, they do all kind of crap to each other. I hate it and I really feel for these kids.. I do. The parents needs a huge wake up call.. And even when they get it.. Most of them doesn't change.. Age restrictions would be good, but there's a few options already as Razzy stated. However, those options would still need a caring parent, otherwise they won't work.

8 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

Everything you said right there, especially about the need for caring parents, that's essential. Parenting is NOT an afk-able skill, gotta be hands on all the time! Or, you never know who your kids will be talking to out there. Mine is really clever, she can get around most blocks or find a way to do what she wants online. The thing that has worked really well for us, is instilling the good values, so if she hears someone randomly swearing on a game play video or TV, she doesn't automatically adopt the same behavior. And, it's going to happen, eventually they're going to click on a video that has a link to another video. Just staying tuned-in has helped a lot, constantly talking about what she's into, which is getting harder and harder as the teen years fast approach :/

She doesn't' seem interested so far in Facebook, just happy about that - though occasionally we play Farmville 2 there together on my FB account.

At this point, the only real tool I have is information and I'm being sure she knows about the cyber-bullies online at Facebook and not talking with strangers and saying how people can seem nice online but friendly does not equal friend/family. Just so easy to get involved with the wrong people online, anyone from around the world can just reach out and contact you/your child at any time of day, people you would never think to associate with in real life or even let in your front door - but you don't think twice to talk to them on Facebook.

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

Very true! Teach the child good values. And you mentioned the teen years. This time is critical, and it's also during this time that a child can be bullied, find adult sites, or even get stalked. Most of the bullying online stems from either schools or social media websites.

There's not much one can do about cyberbulling, as it's often hard to find out who's behind it. However, some people have actually been charged with cyberbullying, and terroristic threatening and I think more and more people are pushing for some cyberbullying laws, or some laws may actually already exist.

Very interesting when technology is moving faster than law.

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

Parental controls seem like the best option. Parents are often uninformed of their child's internet activity, and a lot of the times it's often too late to take any action, especially if the child is being bullied via the internet and decides to take their own life. It's devastating that the internet can assist in one's suicide, however there is many accounts of this occurring worldwide due to bullies on the internet. It's depressing to think that you're not safe online, or have stalkers online.

8 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

I agree with what you mentioned and I honestly believe that future generations could be better if only there were not allowed to have access to certain images, words etc. via the internet. Unfortunately the limitations imposed on kids and young teens are often invisible, since their parents/guardians couldn't care less what they are exposed to. So something like this could be the best alternative. The first restrictions need to come from parents, but since it is common knowledge that this does not always happen I agree with your proposals as child safety on the net concerns me a great deal.

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

I believe the restrictions should come from parents also, and not any government agency. There is options such as Parental Controls that most internet service providers will have. If your internet service provider doesn't have a parental control system than you can download parental control programs and install on your computer and monitor your child's internet activity, block keywords, and websites.

8 years ago

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Beverly

Beverly

I'm not a huge fan of Big Brother control, it's just that I see it coming, whether we want it or not. I still like the idea of an internet access that is based more on a login with something personally identifiable like a thumb print. That's available already to unlock a device, so why not to unlock and allow access to your internet connection? You can hack someone's wifi password but not their thumbprint. People would be more careful of what sites they allow to be visited on their machines if they knew they were being tracked in such an obvious way.

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

I'm also not into being controlled and told what I can and can't do... however when it comes to the internet and my kids it would be great to have some more control.

I think a lot of parents just let their kids run wild and don't monitor things at all.

Children are already so vulnerable just with things like TV, never mind the internet!

My friends 4 year old was twerking the other day to Miley Cyrus on tv! We were horrified.

The internet can truly be a dangerous place, especially for children.

Then again these kids are so wise these days I am sure they would find a way to hack the systems!

8 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

It’s really sad to note that the internet couldn’t restrict the user based on age maybe because there is no way at present. Perhaps if there will be a sort of database for adult users to register then the restriction will be a reality. I do not agree for children to be in social media especially those in grade school because they see things that are not fit for their eyes. But even if Facebook prohibits minors to open an account it cannot be implemented fully.

6 years ago

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