Pam C on Nostr: I think Esther Ghey is a bit misguided in her attempt to ban the internet for kids. ...
I think Esther Ghey is a bit misguided in her attempt to ban the internet for kids. Young people are more savvy than us oldies who have been around the block a few times. But even for those who can't get round a ban, there are thousands of support groups and resources on the internet, everything from Mermaids, to Gires, to childline to Samaritans that many would lose access to. Yes, many have a physical presence, but it's getting that information quickly & safely.
When I was 12, during the 72/73 school year, I played truant to go to Manchester's huge central Library to research what I was. I knew enough to check out the psychology section. It took me days of going through almost every book in that section, just to find a single paragraph (not much info' in books back then), and then years more to finally make contact with a group, first beaumont society, then SHAFT (Self Help Association for Transsexuals). The internet still wasn't available to more than a few, and the world wide web still hadn't been invented. By this time I was in my early 20s and I still had no idea what to do. It was only through penpals (no email back then) that I learnt of Charing Cross Hospital and how to get there (via GP, etc)
Don't let us go back to the dark ages of everybody being alone, without access to what is good information. Porn isn't the problem. I've not seen porn even as a popup or popunder for over 10 years thanks to good safety programmes and apps. But I first saw a mucky book, left in a derelict house when I was about 7, long before even the arpanet.
Sometimes young people don't feel comfortable talking to a parent, sibling, teacher, etc, and the web may be a good way of finding out about themselves, and others like them.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Some youngsters need the information, even if some grown-ups think they are acting in their best interests.
When I was 12, during the 72/73 school year, I played truant to go to Manchester's huge central Library to research what I was. I knew enough to check out the psychology section. It took me days of going through almost every book in that section, just to find a single paragraph (not much info' in books back then), and then years more to finally make contact with a group, first beaumont society, then SHAFT (Self Help Association for Transsexuals). The internet still wasn't available to more than a few, and the world wide web still hadn't been invented. By this time I was in my early 20s and I still had no idea what to do. It was only through penpals (no email back then) that I learnt of Charing Cross Hospital and how to get there (via GP, etc)
Don't let us go back to the dark ages of everybody being alone, without access to what is good information. Porn isn't the problem. I've not seen porn even as a popup or popunder for over 10 years thanks to good safety programmes and apps. But I first saw a mucky book, left in a derelict house when I was about 7, long before even the arpanet.
Sometimes young people don't feel comfortable talking to a parent, sibling, teacher, etc, and the web may be a good way of finding out about themselves, and others like them.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Some youngsters need the information, even if some grown-ups think they are acting in their best interests.