Like many people, it’s been quite a while that I hear about podcasts, but haven’t really been catching up on this technology, but some weeks ago, I suddently became interested on this technology and subscribed to a couple of them.
While some turned out really boring and unsibscribed soon, others got me thinking:
If I had this kind of technology when I was a geek teen, I’d be delighted! Finding resources for my crazy projects would have been so much easier.
And then a question popped into my mind, just as there are great podcasts out there and, further, it is a wonderful technology whose full use still have to be show, there is a lot of garbage out there and that could not be a good thing for children.
Of course, this is not a debate that starts with podcasts, it is being debated for everything about the web since it became popular, about a decade ago. Strange as it might seem, is seems that a large number of parents act according with the following thought:
The web is a great tool that can do a lot of harm that is something we can’t fight.
Part of this thought is true, but I don’t think it has to be true on its entirety.
For start, it is true that the use of computers and video games in excess can physically harm people, not only children, and this should be addressed by
- Improving Ergonomics on computer devices
- Learning good practices on how to use computers
Computers are becoming ubiquitous and invisible
Thinking of computers as that big box on (or under your desk) is a rather old-fashioned way of thinking on the subject and certainly not a point of view that would help solve the matter. Today computers are ubiquitous, they are everywhere and more and more they become even invisible to our eyes.
Today computers are ubiquitous, they are everywhere and more and more they become even invisible to our eyes.
As they blend into the world that already existed before they came to our home, it seems safe to say that computers are going to become so ergonomic that we are going to use them without even noticing.
On the meantime, there are computers on cell phones and all kinds of devices different from the old beige-box, and mostly, they are or they will be connected to the internet, which brings us back to our initial question: is the web harmful to children?
In many aspects, yes! Through the web, children are exposed to all kinds of information that are not suited to their minds still in early development. They are also exposed to other people that can harm their growing process. In the lightest case, they are exposed to so much information that they might just be more confused than enlightened by it.
So, would I like to have all this when I was a kid?
So, would I like to have all this when I was a kid? Do I enjoy the fact that my children will grow in this environment? Yes, definitely!
There have always been risks and dangers to children, always! The world is not more dangerous today for them because of the web. What seems to be the problem is that the technology changed so fast that provoked a cultural shift that is hard to follow by the previous generation.
I don’t think there are more dangers to children today, I believe children are less protected from the dangers of today, that they were from the dangers of the past. It seems to me that a great danger is the allowance for the computer to replace parents, teachers and other people.
If you are going to see the computer as a replacement, you should see it as a replacement for magazines, books encyclopedias and means of communication, but they can’t substitute parents, teachers or friends.
Trusting the net-nanny
What about the net nanny? Can a program block harmful content on the web? No! First of all, this falls into a category of problems that are called undecidable. Second of all, you can’t let a computer algorithm decide what is not suited to an educational purpose.
But the ultimate reason why a net nanny is not a good solution, is because if you tell a child that he is not allowed to see a site because of the net nanny, if becomes a conflict, when actually, everything should be contributing to a common objective: A good and happy life for the child. There is no space for conflict here, the child should happily collaborate with this goal, and not be constrain to it by a piece of software.
The solutions
The solution, as simplistic as it might seem, is that parents, teachers and the society in general should follow in a friendly way their children’s life online, put limits to activities and time in the computer and teach ethics along the way.
Here are some simple things to do
- Leave the computer in a place where you can have some control over it. Let children use the computer more or less freely while a responsible person is on the same room.
- Get involved in some of your children activities online. Does your kid have a blog, offer to proofreading his posts
- While doing research on the web for school projects, give them directions, so they don’t end copying and pasting the entire work
Children should not build a world around the computer, but that doesn’t mean the computer can’t be part of their world
The bottom line is, the computer is not a replacement for parents, teachers or friends, so children should not be let alone with the computer as if it were possible. They should not build a world around the computer, but that doesn’t mean the computer or the web can’t be part of their world.
9 Comments
Everyone with children usually has strong feelings and convictions about what is the best way to raise them, and I’m no exception. I never tried to censor them, but guided them and explained things as best I could. One goal I have always had with my children (and now grandchild) is to show how brains and technology together are powerful enablers. I have never believed that any technology is bad or good, but only what we make it. Human nature dictates it will be used for both uplifting and wonderful things as well as debased and exploitative things. Steel is steel: you can forge it into plows or swords, it’s up to you.
This is a really good topic, as my niece is 4 years old now and is absolutely a whiz when playing her Dora CD-Rom games on the computer. It is amazing to see how skilled she has become at simply manipulating a mouse cursor at the age of four and being able to do single and double-clicks. This is at age four! Imagine what will happen by the time she is 7 or 8 years old….I could probably teach her to code some simply HTML by then!
So the question is how can we expose our children to this technology and give them these awesome tools to grow with while protecting them all at the same time. You can see the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of filters like the net nanny at public libraries where there is public internet access. Even the best filters let all kinds of porn and adult sites slip through, so perhaps the best solution is to teach the kid some decent ethics. Warn them that questionable content could screw up the computer and infect it with viruses. Great topic!
@Michael Martine -
Very True. How much science is needed to understand why a kite flies? A lot! How much science do you need to know to fly a kite? Very little. Why can’t computers be like that under grownup supervision? :-)
@Patrick -
Indeed! The only thing a net nanny helps children with is in getting better and better in break rules or in being overly obedient to whatever source of power they meet, even a computer program.
This is a great post, Guilherme. I don’t have kids, so I can’t say for sure what my opinion is on the matter, but I like to think that, when the day comes, I will more or less agree with what you’ve said here.
Hi there - interesting post. And I agree - the dangers to children from paedophiles etc, may not be greater than they were a couple of decades ago. The trouble is, modern life - eg. better transportation, the internet etc, have made it easier for paedophiles to gain access to children; and also to network together.
And because of this, we have to keep a more watchful eye on our kids. Your suggestions are wise. The more you’re sharing what your children do on a computer the less vulnerable they are.
My kids are into Bebo right now, but they allow me access to what they’re posting and they understand I’m not trying to intrude on their privacy - I just want to make sure they stay safe online.
@Adam Snider - Thanks!
@Catherine L -
I don’t have kids yet, but I’ve always thought that parents involved in children activity to help out to overcome challenges as well as keeping a good degree of safety was all good.
IMO, acting like a moderator on their online life, rather than an authority, seems a good path to go.
Interesting post, thought provoking. It occurred to me as I read it that while I coach the kids on Internet or gaming pitfalls, warnings or taboos, I rarely thinking of coaching them on proper computing ergonomics. Like taking a second to teach about eye to monitor ratio, or even proper posture. Sounds lame even writing it, but since they use it so much more, I wonder if kids/young adults will start displaying the same physical ailments that adults do now?
@Michelle - Hi Michelle, now that you mention it, it sounds lame the subject receives this little focus and I’d probably could have lightly touched the subject here. This is certainly a subject to be explored more.
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