March 3, 2007
Blogger Power
Several months ago I took advantage of a sponsored posting opportunity to share some thoughts on keeping children safe online. It’s a sticky problem. We monitor, we install safety software, we talk to the children (the most important thing we do, in my opinion) but the exposure is still there. We want so desparately to keep the children safe, without stifling their natural desire to explore the world around them. The internet can help their imaginations soar and bring them contacts and information that enrich their lives. It’s up to each parent, teacher or other caring adult to minimize the risks children are exposed to when they log on.
As bloggers we have the outlet and, I believe, the responsibility, to communicate worthy messages to massive numbers of people. My friend Doris has found a way for us to use our talents to further the cause of online safety for children. She’s asked me to help spread the message of the Blogger Power: Safeguard the Web for Children project. Someone, somewhere, siezed the idea to share the message through a meme, wherein each blogger who receives it contributes to its viral growth by sending it on to others. Individually we can all do something. Together we can have a tremendous impact. Here’s the Blogger Power message that addresses one aspect of child safety online:
To all webmasters of “adult content” websites:
Please require a password-protected login before allowing even free access to explicit adult content. We understand that selling porn is your business and we respect your right to make a legal living. But understand our legitimate concerns and work with us. You already have the “warning adult content†on your websites. Yet kids, who are not legal customers of your product, ignore the warning. So to prevent them from having direct access to explicit images, texts and sounds, the simplest way is to have a password-protected login. No more “free tours†before a visitor supplies basic information.
My stat-checker tells me that I do get visits from porn sites. You probably do, too. Let’s all send them a message telling them what we want!
I was asked to send this message to twenty other bloggers. Yikes! That’s a lot of links to look up and a lot of folks to send messages to when I’m done. I think it’s important, though, and I hope that you will, too. It’s midnight and I’m working early tomorrow. If you don’t see twenty names below when you first read this, rest assured I’ll be back to complete my task as soon as I can! If you’ve been tagged and would rather not participate, that’s cool. I hope you’ll still consider posting the message on your blog.
I’m tagging:
Em
Crunchy Carpets
Sassymonkey
Suni
Amy
Angie
Marisa
J.E.
Cass
Tricia
Kat
Robyn
Lisa
Ann
Melissa
Kim
Charlotte
Leigh
Amy Jo
Autumn
Technorati Tags: children, internet safety, memes
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March 3rd, 2007 at 8:33 am, Leigh Says:
I’m on it!! …soon…
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:25 am, Charlotte Says:
Done!
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:04 am, allan Says:
I get a lot of troll traffic looking for porn- I imagine they are quite disappointed.
This is a good concept, but it’s very, very easy to work around such safeguards. I won’t say how, but it is.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:52 am, Amy Jo Says:
oh, this is great, I’ll do this in just a bit…I’m still trying to wake up this morning. ROFLOL
March 6th, 2007 at 4:56 am, Key West or Bust Says:
[…] the responsibility, to communicate worthy messages to massive numbers of people. My friend Skeet has found a way for us to use our talents to further the cause of online safety for children. […]
March 6th, 2007 at 7:19 pm, emsxiety Says:
I did it too.
March 11th, 2007 at 7:07 am, Melissa Says:
Great idea, I wrote about it!