Growing up Googled
Over at the Security Awareness for Ma, Pa, and the Corporate Clueless (nice blog, subscribed!) is an interesting post about child protection when it comes to online activities.
This is, as you could imagine, something I have thought about as my kids get older. Of course, right now they can barely say computer, let alone use one. But based on Annie?s recent rocketing intellect and understanding, it won?t be too long before she asks for some computer time, and soon enough a computer of her own.
Does this mean she goes straight to the Treo 600, do not pass Go, do not collect $200? Of course not! That girl will be hitting the Speak and Spell just like the rest of us, or at least as long as it entertains her.
For example, she has a VideoNow Color, complete with an episode or two of Spongebob (there may be two, but only one lives in there now?destined to never escape its hard plastic cage). She figured out how to use it pretty quickly, but then again two buttons isn?t exactly challenging. Regardless, the fact is she?s growing up immersed in advanced technology and Larry Borasato makes a strong case that technology shouldn?t be shoved down the throats of young people. They will naturally gravitate, he argues, towards whatever interests them. The parents should not provide the interest and make the kids do the follow-through.
And I completely agree with that statement. I don?t expect my kids to be anywhere near as geeky or tech-minded as I am. Hell, I hope they don?t love video games, card games, and computers as much as I do. While I wouldn?t be unhappy about that situation, I?m also prepared to let it be a part of their life while not running it. Could I train my children to do what I do, whether it be systems administration or making cash from Magic: The Gathering? Yeah, I guess. But that whole ?Free Will? thing keeps messing with that plan.
While I don?t think that I?m going to be signing up for any Children?s Online Ethics Classes anytime soon, I do think that for those parents who don?t know advanced networking should take notice?kids are resilient and inventive, and you best believe if there is a hole in your system they will find it.
Man, the security I?m going to have to setup for my kids is going to be ridiculous. It?s like San Quentin or the honor system. You?re kinda screwed either way. The first way you?re a warden, the second you?re letting them off too easy. To spy or not to spy? These are questions for years down the road, but to even look at them in the near horizon makes me nervous.
For now I?ll be content watching Spongebob with them and changing diapers. We?ll let the rest of these hard-to-handle issues settle themselves out in The Unknown Future, a place where nothing happens, aka Heaven.
I?m curious if any readers have had any problems, issues, etc with kids online and their dangerous creativity at getting around barriers setup by parents. If there are any out there, please share.
Last week I had the strangest dream
Where everything was exactly as it seemed
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