There's no question that kids today are growing up in a very different time compared to generations past. Thanks to the internet and devices such as smartphones, technology has a huge impact on how children develop and it's important for parents to educate their children on the proper use of these technologies. In fact, Google's Eric Schmidt thinks the 'online talk' should come before sex education.
Schmidt, who has spoken in the past about protecting minors from their online mistakes, told Reuters that parents need to educate their children on online safety and privacy online. Schmidt described user generated content as a privacy nightmare for a 15-year-old.
"Because, when you're about 15, and you do something stupid and you go to juvenile court and they say, 'Okay, you're just a kid. If you get to 18 and you don't do it again, we'll clear your record, no one will ever know,'" Schmidt said. "Well now, it's gonna follow you for the rest of your life. And I'd argue for those of you with teenagers or pre-teens, you should probably have the online talk before you even have the sex talk with your kid, because that's the kind of damage they can do to themselves over their entire life."
Back in 2010, Eric Schmidt commented that he thought a time would come when young people would be allowed to change their name when they became an adult, just to escape the stupid things their real name may be associated with online.
If you remember 'Hello My Future Girlfriend' or 'Star Wars Kid,' you'll know what Google chief Eric Schmidt is talking about. Sometimes, we post things online without thinking about the consequences. Other times, our friends are the culprits, making something embarrassing available for the world to see, without first asking if we mind. Schmidt clearly believes that educating children on the permanent nature of the internet is the best way to protect their privacy.
So yeah, pretty much spot on.
Now, how can we explain what's going on in the interwebz to a 7-8 year old kid? And don't give me the "SUCH YOUNG AGE!!!" crap, you know at that age a kid knows how to surf the web.
Cheers!
So yeah, pretty much spot on.
Now, how can we explain what's going on in the interwebz to a 7-8 year old kid? And don't give me the "SUCH YOUNG AGE!!!" crap, you know at that age a kid knows how to surf the web.
Cheers!
Due to my job I get large numbers of photographs sent to me, some of them racy in nature. And you would not believe how many of them are from iPhones, complete with GPS data intact.
Somebody is not telling people that a phone that can show a map with your current location can also attach said info to the photo you took of yourself at home; and then posted "anonymously" to a dating site !
This was always important, not just now, and this is what most parents dont do.
Time are "always" diffrent than "when I was young".
Personally, I don't think webcams or webcam apps or websites should be available to anyone under the age of 16.
Parental controls on Windows, OS, Smartphones, Tablets, iPods HAVE TO get better.
If there isn't already, there needs to be some sort of app that can detect if you're sharing pornography or not. Sexting is a big problem, as well.
Also, they need to find a way to make it next to impossible to hide your identity online. Some of these sites allow you to link your profile to things like Facebook and Twitter, and the user can set up access to anyone or only those with Facebook, Twitter or whatever. Even so, it's better, but still not full-proof. Where there's a will (or in this case, a coward), there's a way.
It has shocked me before to walk in a friends home and see them let their children watch some of the most explicit things even on Youtube with language and such.
And I am not some "old prude". I am a 25 year old who is finishing my elementary education degree. It is shocking, and disheartening, some of the things that go on. My parents were very strict on me, and yes, I hated it at the time. Like all kids, I did not have the ability to comprehend and understand at the time what they were trying to do. That took more life experience. However now I am very grateful to them because they gave me a solid foundation.
"Well son, I think it's time for the talk."
The internet *is* sex education.
What's that you say? Most parents know less about the internet than a GeekSquad employee?
Seriously, how can you really expect a parent to teach their child how to safely exist on the internet when a HUGE portion of the population is computer illiterate? How can you expect these parents to give a Internet Talk when they themselves don't even run antivirus?
Never use your own name on profiles.
Never post photos of yourself unless you know every single one person that has access to them.
Teach them how to set who can look at profile and photos.
Tell them that any photos or videos that they take can and usually end up on the internet, so if they don't want anyone to see them, don't take them. And never believe anyone who says 'I promise I won't show them to anyone'.
Ect...
Sex talk, if they're old enough to ask they're old enough to know.
Kids should not be allowed on the internet. A person should not be able to use the internet until they reach the age of majority. Many kids do not have the mental maturity to use the internet responsibly and therefore need to be protected from it before they do something they will regret. This is like why you don't allow kids to smoke, drink, or drive until they get older.
I actually have to agree somewhat. If you cannot regulate what your children can access on the internet and do not want to teach them about how to use it safely, then keep them off it.