Comments on: Is the web harmful to children? http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/ The Science of Web Art, Design and Development Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:27:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1256 Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:13:37 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1256 @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. @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.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1255 Michelle Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:47:15 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1255 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? 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?

]]> By: Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1076 Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:57:57 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1076 @Adam Snider - Thanks! @Catherine L - <blockquote>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.</blockquote> 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. @Adam Snider - Thanks!

@Catherine L -

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.

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.

]]> By: Catherine L http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1074 Catherine L Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:24:04 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1074 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. 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.

]]> By: Adam Snider http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1072 Adam Snider Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:35:23 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1072 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. 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.

]]> By: Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1071 Guilherme Zühlke O'Connor Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:32:32 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1071 @Michael Martine - <blockquote>I have never believed that any technology is bad or good, but only what we make it.</blockquote> 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 - <blockquote>You can see the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of filters like the net nanny at public libraries where there is public internet access.</blockquote> 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. @Michael Martine -
I have never believed that any technology is bad or good, but only what we make it.

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 -

You can see the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of filters like the net nanny at public libraries where there is public internet access.

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.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1069 Patrick Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:46:49 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1069 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! 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!

]]> By: Michael Martine http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1068 Michael Martine Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:40:11 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1068 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. 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.

]]> By: Computers - Laptops and Desktop Computers http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1075 Computers - Laptops and Desktop Computers Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2008/02/is-the-web-harmful-to-children/#comment-1075 <!--%kramer-pre%-->adminwrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt 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<!--%kramer-post%--> links from Technoratiadminwrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt 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

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