Ban children from the internet

[Susurrus]

How on earth do you plan on banning kids? How do you identify kids? And then how do you explain to parents not to leave a parental account active, that they need to log off, and log the kid on every time you leave the computer. If the parents aren't properly policing what their children do to begin with, banning children isn't going to help.

Added to which, how on earth would you manage to gain a worldwide ban on kids using the internet.

What really needs to happen, and yet probably never will, is for a proper global legal framework to be set up, which is enforceable in any country, by any country, regarding proper use of the internet. Of course, this is as much a pipe dream as the idea that banning children from the internet would work.

It's prob worth noting that at my school, the students regularly outsmarted the adults responsible for internet security, even when they were only thirteen/fourteen. Heck, some of them could code better than the regulators, and CODED AROUND THEM. How do you ban that?

I'd also suggest that whilst grooming etc. is insidious and difficult, that proper schooling of children in the dangers of strangers etc., even on the internet, is probably more effective than banning the children.

 

[Pinstar]

Don't forget that people try to hide their personal agendas under the banner of "Think of the children"

Often a person who complains about seeing XYZ on TV and claims it is bad for children is often saying that just because they personally object to the material.

 

[Schneizel]

Still tho, don't ban under 18's. This is on the parents and developers, no one else. Only a very small bit on the developers too, mostly on parents having no idea on how to take care of their kids now adays!

This is my point. Content providers on the web should not have to worry about children using their services. Parents who want their children to be protected from things should take care of it themselves, not expect everyone else in the world to suffer so the parents don't have to learn about their children's interests.

EDIT: and once again we have an idiot going on about the difficulty in enforcing a ban. Derp derp derp.

 

[Ren3004]

Because kids under 18 also need the Internet for school work?

Although I agree with not banning under 18's from the internet, I don't see how this argument is valid. I did all my homework without PC, so did my classmates and billions of people before us and before the internet. Acording to research the average person even did their school work better a few years ago, than when PC truly got introduced to education. You don't need the PC. It may be a great tool at times, but you will always find other ways to get your information. Maybe the Librarys would be resurected? =p

Still tho, don't ban under 18's. This is on the parents and developers, no one else. Only a very small bit on the developers too, mostly on parents having no idea on how to take care of their kids now adays!

Well, my brother has to send some school work to his teachers by e-mail.

 

[PayneTrayne]

For the age limit, I had a late birthday, and went into University at the age of 17. We had a mandatory online course, I would of been screwed due to this rule.

 

[Schneizel]

Well, my brother has to send some school work to his teachers by e-mail.

Way to ignore the guy's post. Didn't you see the bit where he pointed out that before the internet (and consequently before e-mail) kids managed just fine?

 

[Dreyfuss]

OH NOES CHILD GROOMING is often bitched by people who want to ruin the internet. So rather than fuck it up for everyone, why not ban under-18s? That way any situations involving children being raped are on the parents' heads, the internet doesn't "need" to be made into a shitty virtual Disney world and as soon as you hit 18 you're free to enjoy it as you like.

Morning TV show was yesterday whining about children using chatroulette and being "exposed" to guys jacking off on webcam, hence the thread.

Thoughts?

Rather than fucking it up for everyone OR banning kids, why not growing the fuck up and getting over this stupid crap?

Oh no! It's a picture of a penis! Oh god it's going to give our kid AIDS over the internet and they will DIE IMMEDIATELY! Only the media and our politicians can save us now!

The ONLY reason this is a problem is because we teach half our kids to be ashamed of what they are and the other half to be afraid of the first.

You know maybe those guys wouldn't get such a thrill doing this IF YOU STOPPED FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT.

 

[bluepilot]

There is software available for free which allows parents to restrict access to the internet.

It is unneccessary to ban children completly from the internet...as nice as this would be

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

first off, how would they police it?
What they should do is put an age limit on social networking sights like facoebook and chatroulette.
A lot of the problem lies with the parents, they need to start checking on their children when they are on the computer and make sure they arent getting themselves put in a harful situation

 

[bassdrum]

I laugh at the dumbasses who shout that the world is corrupting their precious little Timmy before turning around to but him GTA. Honestly, I've been using the internet since I was... well, I'm not exactly sure when I started, but I've been at it for at least a decade. I may not be the most fantastic example of a good person, but the internet hasn't destroyed me.

Basically, it's up to parents to raise their kids, so I must respectfully disagree with your position on the censorship of the internet.

[sub]Besides, I'm sure that there are a bunch of teens on this site that would die (or kill) without their daily Escapist fix.[/sub]

 

[ffs-dontcare]

A welcome side-effect of banning all children from the internet is that if we came across a rather rude and vitriolic person, we wouldn't have to wonder if it's just a kid. We'd instantly know it's an adult with a mental deficiency.

I shouldn't have to point out that I'm against censoring the internet from children though.

 

[RicoADF]

It's no different then going to the park or the shops, wherever you go that there are humans there's a risk that some weirdo will try something. Fact is life is full of them, all you can do as parents is watch over your kids and teach them right from wrong. Problem is parents aren't parents anymore, and then wonder why the kids wont listen to them or respect them etc.

 

[Schneizel]

@Haseo21: how it would be enforced is totally irrelevant. We don't talk about logistics when talking about how hard it is to prevent domestic abuse, we call it immoral and limit it how we can. NO, a ban would not prevent all children getting online, but it would reduce it - and parents who allow their kids to ignore the ban would be punished, giving an incentive to parents to take responsibility themselves.

 

[Schneizel]

all you can do as parents is watch over your kids

But parents don't want to do that. They want their government to do it for them and ruin the internet for everyone else just to make it easier on said parents.

EDIT: @Dreyfuss: agree with your entire post, but unfortunately we live in a society of morons.

 

[Toasty]

A basic problem with this is that if children or those under 16/18 were completely isolated from things deemed 'inapropriate' for their age....then when they reach the age of adulthood(whatever that might be, its debatable)and they are exposed to the internet etc, they would 1. be in shock, 2. struggle to adjust 3. not mature past disney until they hit 18. sounds possibly more dangerous than the current situation.

 

[Vampire cat]

Well, my brother has to send some school work to his teachers by e-mail.

Sure, now you do. Because it's been sort of integrated into school, the use of PC. But you do not HAVE to do it by e-mail. There are always a way to turn in your work.

But lets put that aside. I still think anyone should be allowed to use the internet. It is on the parents to take care of their kids, but maybe some information on how to "protect" your kids online should be come more readily available? Maybe the news should talk about how to protect them, and not how the kids aren't protected at the moment!

 

[Schneizel]

A basic problem with this is that if children or those under 16/18 were completely isolated from things deemed 'inapropriate' for their age....then when they reach the age of adulthood(whatever that might be, its debatable)and they are exposed to the internet etc, they would 1. be in shock, 2. struggle to adjust 3. not mature past disney until they hit 18. sounds possibly more dangerous than the current situation.

Agreed, but logic is irrelevant. Children ARE going to be wrapped in cotton wool. It's going to be done either by ruining the internet or keeping them off it. Ruining it is the way governments are going right now, but keeping them off it is an option.

Basically, the fact that children wouldn't need to be coddled if parents were competent doesn't matter. The loudest parents aren't competent and because of it governments are taking action that makes the world a lot less interesting for everyone. So yes, I agree children shouldn't be banned from the internet or "protected" from "inappropriate" things. But since the people who make the decisions disagree, it's irrelevant.

 

[Shockolate]

Ban under 18's? Fuck you! I've been using computers since I was 8! And I'm still only 17!

In all seriousness, someone really needs to take and stand and tell the "Support" group to fuck off in a less offensive manner. Also, Fuck you >:C!!! I'll die before my internet priviledge is taken away from me >:C>:C>:C>:C