January 23, 2006

IT: Educating parents of techno-savvy kids

Educating parents of techno-savvy kids
By: Dr Pieter Streicher

Western society has become more and more permissive with the emphasis on the "freedom of expression" of individuals. However, these consenting rights need to be balanced by the protection of children's rights. Gone are the days when parental control meant keeping your kids off the neighbour's farm. Today parents need to be vigilant and protect children from harmful media content.

Parental vigilance of media is becoming increasingly difficult. Adult magazines abound in stores and adult videos, adult movies on TV and adult websites are accessible. Now, even cell phones can download adult content.

The availability of adult mobile content has raised many concerns that children may access explicit adult media content such as logos, video clips or wallpapers via cell phones. These concerns indicate that there is need for suitable regulations and parental control to protect children from adult mobile content.

It is my view that parental control should compliment the efforts made to regulate mobile adult content. Parents are not alone in safe-guarding the mobile habits of children.

The mobile network operators and the wireless application service provider's association (WASPA) are working hard to introduce suitable measures to protect children from adult content on mobile phones.

FULL ARTICLE AT http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/16/8995.html

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Chris Schuepp
Young People's Media Network - Coordinator
 
Youth Media Consulting GbR
c/o ECMC (European Centre for Media Competence)
Bergstr. 8 / 11th floor
D-45770 Marl - Germany
 
Tel./Fax: +49 2365 502480
Mobile: +49 176 23107083
Email: cschuepp@unicef.org
URL: www.unicef.org/magic
Mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youthful-media
 
The YPMN is supported by UNICEF and hosted by the ECMC.
 
The opinions and views expressed in this message and/or articles & websites linked to from this message do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies.
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