[Serious] Young Children on the Internet

[Gombarry]

I've been on the Internet since I was 12 and I've been on plenty of forums like that. It's ok for kids to be on the interwebz as long as they are mature and they know what they're doing.

[Singidava]

Btw shouldn't this be in the social politics thread?

Anyway, it actually may be safer if you do let kids to use internet but use some parental control programs to restrict the content they're able to view. Of course, these restrictions are pretty easy to get around (I know since I've done it multiple times... My parents love parental controls. I still can't access internet freely without leeching off my neighbour's network and I'll be 18 in November! Geez...) but if they're able to do that chances are that they're prepared for the dangers of the internet~

Back to the point! It may be safer because the internet is a part of the modern society and its role continues to increase. I am scared when my mom uses the internet, not when my little brother does. Older people have not gotten used to the internet because they didn't grow up with it and this is why they're cheated more easily than kids by fake ads etc. By "protecting" the children we may accidentally hurt their future selves. Mistakes should be done when people are still kids when the damages aren't as serious. Children don't have credit cards...

[E.D.Revolution]

Btw shouldn't this be in the social politics thread?

On THAT deader than dead topic?

*ahem*

Anyway, I was on the internet since my mom introduced me to AOL back when I was about... 6? But I was there more for the games rather than socializing. I started to socialize on the internet when I was about... 14? (with facebook and all)

There are sites designed for little kids, like BP said. More likely than not, those sites are designed with a culture in mind, a culture of "protection." You're not likely going to see some "internet" stuff at those sites. Of course all protection is gone when a little kid goes into unknown sites and then you encounter the "internet."

Age really shouldn't be a factor as long as you teach them how to use the internet wisely. It's also why I'm against age limits on vices like smoking, gambling, and drinking: as long as you're taught under supervision, you'll end up fine.

As for my opinion... I'm okay with anyone on the internet, old and young, as long as they know basic IRL and internet etiquette.

[Holhol]

Age really shouldn't be a factor as long as you teach them how to use the internet wisely. It's also why I'm against age limits on vices like smoking, gambling, and drinking: as long as you're taught under supervision, you'll end up fine.

Seeing as how you're still growing at that time, smoking and drinking could seriously screw people up.

And, well... gambling is a bad idea, too. For anybody, really.

Back on topic, I agree. If you're mature, you can handle the internet. This doesn't apply to just kids, too. I've seen many people on the internet (not naming names, and not even saying here) who go on temper tantrums, and they're even OLDER then 18.

[ShokkaDC]

Spoiler : :

Is it that bad

I've been on the internet since I was 3 or 4

Spoiler : :

Is it

Mind = Blown

I started using the Internet in my Middle School days. That was when I started playing RuneScape.

I think it's okay for young children to be on the internet. As long as they stay away from the bad stuff. Which is like... Impossible.

I started going on the internet when I was like 9 and never had many problems. All it takes to stay safe on the internet is some common sense... generally.

QFT.

I started Runescape when I was 6

[ShokkaDC]

Why is it so bad

It doesn't make sense.

Spoiler : :

Ugh

[TKinhonipei]

Why is it so bad

It doesn't make sense.

Spoiler : :

Ugh

Oh, it's not so bad. I'm just surprised and jealous because I only got to finally use the internet in my middle school days.

I actually would of started using the internet at a young age, but my cousin's girlfriend kept hogging the computer.

[Hodou Okappa]

I think the problem isn't AGE, but bad parenting.

And not just "specific instances of bad parenting," but "parenting as a whole is not suited for today's society."

We have to accept that we won't be able to hide stuff like sex and language from our kids until an older age anymore. Things like this will have to be addressed very early in childhood, rather than the current attitude.

Parents definitely need to learn that the internet (and video games) is not just another toy to let children run free with. They need to be taught how to use it, how to behave on it, and how to deal with what they see on it. It's NOT okay if your 12 year old is cursing out a roomful of adults on Call of Duty. That's wrong, and it's YOUR fault for not keeping an eye on him.

But it would be pointless to force younger kids off the internet entirely. That's like cutting them off from a whole side of the world, now.

[Hodou Okappa]

I think the problem isn't AGE, but bad parenting.

And not just "specific instances of bad parenting," but "parenting as a whole is not suited for today's society."

We have to accept that we won't be able to hide stuff like sex and language from our kids until an older age anymore. Things like this will have to be addressed very early in childhood, rather than the current attitude.

Parents definitely need to learn that the internet (and video games) is not just another toy to let children run free with. They need to be taught how to use it, how to behave on it, and how to deal with what they see on it. It's NOT okay if your 12 year old is cursing out a roomful of adults on Call of Duty. That's wrong, and it's YOUR fault for not keeping an eye on him.

But it would be pointless to force younger kids off the internet entirely. That's like cutting them off from a whole side of the world, now.

[ShokkaDC]

I think the problem isn't AGE, but bad parenting.

And not just "specific instances of bad parenting," but "parenting as a whole is not suited for today's society."

We have to accept that we won't be able to hide stuff like sex and language from our kids until an older age anymore. Things like this will have to be addressed very early in childhood, rather than the current attitude.

Parents definitely need to learn that the internet (and video games) is not just another toy to let children run free with. They need to be taught how to use it, how to behave on it, and how to deal with what they see on it. It's NOT okay if your 12 year old is cursing out a roomful of adults on Call of Duty. That's wrong, and it's YOUR fault for not keeping an eye on him.

But it would be pointless to force younger kids off the internet entirely. That's like cutting them off from a whole side of the world, now.

You tell 'em Hodou

[lazyplague]

I think the problem isn't AGE, but bad parenting.

And not just "specific instances of bad parenting," but "parenting as a whole is not suited for today's society."

We have to accept that we won't be able to hide stuff like sex and language from our kids until an older age anymore. Things like this will have to be addressed very early in childhood, rather than the current attitude.

Parents definitely need to learn that the internet (and video games) is not just another toy to let children run free with. They need to be taught how to use it, how to behave on it, and how to deal with what they see on it. It's NOT okay if your 12 year old is cursing out a roomful of adults on Call of Duty. That's wrong, and it's YOUR fault for not keeping an eye on him.

But it would be pointless to force younger kids off the internet entirely. That's like cutting them off from a whole side of the world, now.

There are a lot of bad parents.(Usually 16 year olds who couldn't wait to have kids, or just plain idiotic parents.)

I really have a problem with bad parents.
I have seen parents who left their kids standing in the street while they get coffee.
For some reason my parents turned out to be good and make sure I was safe on the internet.

Now my friends at school keep talking about how they watch "things".(NOT GONNA TELL THE LITTLER CHILDREN WHAT IT IS!)
Of course I know it's BS but really?
If they even watched it a bit I would be questioning the parent's ability to watch over the child.No monitoring there what so ever.

As I said.
I have no problem with younger children on the internet.
As long as they are safe.

[Mimi]

I agree: it's not the matter of age, but exactly how aware the child is of what s/he's accessing.

Spoiler : Basically what Hodou said. :

It all boils down NOT to the parents, but to the kid. The parents can beat the kid senseless about all these things, but it's up to the kid to nod and accept that as logic.

You can tell me an apple is a fruit and cut off all my limbs, but in the end, it's ME who decides whether I say the apple is a fruit.

No kid can be sheltered from all the bad stuff. In that case, the adult is not being adult enough. Life isn't meant to be heaven--full of good stuff, candy (not that I consider that good, it gives you CAVITIES), cotton candy, pink clouds, and flowers--life is a balance of the bad and good.

A ten-year-old kid could be more "mature" than the fifteen-year-old high school student on the internet. It's easy to fake your identity and to spiral lies into the deep web of the internet. Again, it's up to the individual to believe this lies or to realize that, IT'S THE INTERNET.

It's like asking, "Is it all right for children to watch TV? They have all these ads for stuff that are fake and even some that inappropriate!"

But hey, children watch TV when they're BABIES. They watch Teletubbies and all those good shows.

Basically, what I'm saying is that I think age doesn't really factor into whether they should be on it or not. Sooner or later, they'll discover it--the internet is a big fad and it'll probably never go away. In order to survive, they'll NEED to be on it. Should they be on it? Why not? Even if they end up looking up at porn, it's up to them to decide whether it's morally right (it's not). Eventually, they'll learn a lesson.

Yes, everything is a lesson. Avoiding it means avoiding a huge step toward life. And before you remind me that we're talking about young CHILDREN, not young ADULTS, I'll throw in how mothers and fathers need to be the appropriate mentors and guide them onto a proper way to use this method of communication.

...Yeah, I don't make sense. I just regurgitated what Hodou said. XD

[robloker8]

I started using the internet when I was 5, Is that bad?

[Topaz]

I started on forums when I was 9 and learned HTML coding, albeit little, at that age. God, that wasn't even 5 years ago, feels like a decade.

Wow, I feel young right now. D:

[lazyplague]

@Topaz:That's pretty impressive for a 9 year old though.
@Robloker:as long as you weren't doing anything stupid.... No.