China blocks porn from computers but you can do it yourself
As parents, we always worry about our kids. Whether they are in school or on the playing field, we always want them to be okay. But parents today have worries that many of our moms and dads couldn't have even dreamed of. We have to worry about what is showing up on our kids' cell phones, on their My Space pages or in the inboxes on their computers.
China has decided that it will take care of some of this for parents: Starting July 1, any computer sold in that country must be equipped with software that can filter out pornography and other "unhealthy information" from the Web.
I want to keep my children safe on the Web too, but that's MY job, not the government's. Who decides what the other "unhealthy information" is? What about sites that differ on political opinions? Sites that don't support certain business agendas? Sites that have different religious views? That's a slippery slope.
Yet the digital age is moving fast and kids are jumping online at earlier ages. This article estimates that 37 percent of U.S. kids ages 3-11 use virtual worlds at least once a month. By 2013, the estimate is 54 percent. So what's a concerned Momma to do?
In its June issue, Consumer Reports took a look at computers and security software, checking out the software. The free Spamfighter service got the highest overall score in the magazine's ratings for both free and fee services. But the magazine suggests that you combine some of these services to get the best deal. (To see the magazine's findings, though, you have to be a subscriber).Two other sites, here and here, also offer reviews of filters and blockers.
Still, you shouldn't expect some automated filter to do all your work, says Dr. Michael Berson, a professor in the University of South Florida who has done extensive research about kids and technology.
"Nothing's 100 percent," he said. "Parents must work hand in hand with the software" to keep kids safe. Berson said he and his wife, who's also a professor, have kids ages 16 and 13. The Bersons advocate what he calls "a combo approach. The filters are only one step. "Parents and caregivers have to work together with the technical side to help kids navigate the World Wide Web."
Parents today have a whole new set of responsibilities, he added, as we have to navigate our kids' real lives and their digital lives. "Some parents feel lost when we talk to them. ... But parents don't have to know everything," he said. "Life experience translates both in the real world and in the digital world."
If something would feel a little hinky to you in the real world, he says, trust that same gut feeling when you find your child is involved in something similar in the digital world.
One more thing. My friend Sharon offers this common-sense tip that she and her husband came up with: The very best filter is putting your computer in the middle of the living room so that the parents can always see what's on the children's screen.
-- Sherry Robinson
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.
Lila,
I'm not one for personal attacks but lady you so earned this one. you are a sick, sick individual. where or what closet did you just crawl out of? I make 100k plus a year and I love porn, and so do 90 percent of all the other people I know. Now these are people with MBA's and PHD's. So sweetie your idea of the not being able to support ourselves is not only stupid it ridiculous. I am willing to bet that most woman on here like porn. You must be one of those mormon Republicans that is so brain washed from your church that you wouldn't know reality if it hit you in the face. I'll tell you what's wrong with this country is people like you that are ok with government intervention just to perpetuate your christian views and ideologies. as far as i'm concerned you are no better than Hitler himself, and I say if you like what china is doing go over and preach your moral pc crap over their and see what they will do to you for teaching christianity. the sad part is i'm a christian, but people like you make me sick.
Posted by: Ray | June 10, 2009 at 05:11 PM
Please take a look at OpenDNS.com. It's a great free service that allows parents to block certain sites from any computer in the house. Not just for children or family computers, but for any computer that someone may bring into your home. Like others have said, technology is not the only answer to this issue - it's one piece of the equation.
Posted by: steven | June 10, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I like the idea of having it blocked but the government control doesn't work with our constitution. Adults have the right to view and make. I do find it sad and disturbing but it's their right.
Maybe we can find some medium ground. I would support this.
Posted by: T | June 10, 2009 at 02:25 PM
No one should be surprised China made a good decision. When the food population ratio was untenable, Mao and Chou En-lai decided to have couples (married folks of course) limit their progeny. When their port cities became a haven for sailors and venereal disease, the ports were closed to outsiders. We should not allow porn of any kind on our computers, streets, or television. I see bums in the libraries trying to access porn and I am appalled. Should not be there to access. When someone indignantly doesn't want to be told what to do, generally, that person (those persons) do not have means of self support and decide uncle should pay for it all. That is what is happening to us here in the US. We are the best country, but our bums seem to want more.
Posted by: Lila | June 10, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Is this really a surprise coming from China, a communist country? Many websites are blocked from the outset there, forget having the right to filter it on your computer.
Posted by: Susan | June 10, 2009 at 01:04 AM
"The very best filter is putting your computer in the middle of the living room so that the parents can always see what's on the children's screen."
The smartest comment I’ve seen yet, and that is exactly what I do with my kids. It may be a little old fashion but how about doing things like they used to do. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CHILDREN, and stop expecting our schools, governments, software companies and the local PC do gooders to do it for you. Their your children take some responsibility, it can't always be someone else’s fault.
Posted by: ray | June 09, 2009 at 11:37 PM