Once upon a time (this month)....The Children’s Internet Inc. was created. All the bad Internet sites were no longer accessible to children and only the good sites were viewable. And the children lived happily ever after.
"The Children’s Internet provides a child with the tools they need to succeed in life; a rich array of easy to use applications, including secure e-mail, homework help, games, news, learning activities and virtually limitless educational resources all within its safe, protected online community!"
I must apologize up front for being cynical of this. The phrase from the quote above, "provides a child with the tools they need to succeed in life", sent my hype meter into the red zone. The challenge The Children's Internet Inc. faces, to deliver what every parent with Internet access wants for their children, is huge. The touted Safe Zone Technology (r), sounds too much (to me) like the silver-bullet-security-software plot from the movie, The Net (I did warn you of my cynicism).
I do wish them well. Having alternative portals for children is a good idea and TCI may be a great product for many families...but it comes with the understanding that someone else will be deciding for you (as a parent) what is appropriate for your child and what is not. We'll not even explore the idea that Internet-savy, curious children and teens will figure out some way to circumvent the "protected online communiuty". I lean a little more toward AOL's Online Safety recommendations, even though they require more sophistication on the parent's side...and it pains me so to actually agree with something that AOL recommends.