Children's Safety on the Internet - Blog Prompt Response

So I got to thinking about the idea of "child-proofing" the internet. I can see the good in it and I can also see the harm that it might have for the adults that use the internet. Now, I know I would rather not come across "adult" themed sites when I search for something as mundane as a disney cartoon character. Yes, yuck, its gotten that bad.

But what happens when sites word things too close to something less tame, so that filters remove it form a search? Does that mean that there is more of a chance that safer searches will result in less results? Oh does it mean that per chance site will start catering their sites to be more family friend to save face when it comes to business. I am not saying that all porn related activity online will stop, because it is unfortunately too lucrative a business venture for that to happen.

Granted that is the first thing that I think of when I think of what we have to safe guard against when it comes to the internet. However, because this has become a playground for the sexual uncontrollable (no offense meant, but I mean come on and learn to control impulses already - its part of growing up). Since this is something that is accepted by society it leads to the possibility and reality of more deviant behavior - first branching out to child pornography and then sexual predators, though really the two seem to go more hand in hand as time passes by.

Whether or not people feel that these things are connected are up to them. But so long as businesses are able to keep their sites family friendly I don't see how there could be issues with the internet going more child friendly.

Now there is the "but" to all of this. It would drive me insane if the internet turned into a child's playland. Parents should take responsibility for their children before the rest of us are made to sift through dumbed down and flowery (literally decorated) information that has been pulled together by designer who are focused on making eye-catching designs that suck up the budget that don't allow for good copy-editing. So perhaps its the neurotic part of me that wants people to return using real language - words that are longer than two syllables would be an amazing achievement, especially if you understand them.

Ok, enough of being off track and ranting.

I think that making the internet safe for children is a priority. I also think that, as with everything, there is also moderation with everything. To take precaution with the changes that people do to their sites, so that that safety procedures that they take don't leave open loop holes that make the changes entirely usually.

I think that I've gone on too long. Good night.