Growing Up Online
Thought I’d give the shout out for some television programming tonight. The PBS series, Frontline, which is fantastic, is airing an episode tonight dedicated to the generation of kids growing up now that are, in reality, the first ones to fully grow up in an online world. The piece, entitled Growing Up Online, touches on the much-discussed fear of online sexual predators, as well as concerns about the ease of cut-and-paste plagiarism using the Internet, and how notions of privacy and the meaning of friendships change drastically with the touch of a button.
This is a must watch episode of television for all parents. It is also yet another FANTASTIC case/argument for the need for monitoring software like PC Pandora. The truth is that it’s not just predators… what if your child is being cyberbullied? Or worse, the instigator of such a horrible thing…? What if your kid is addicted to porn… or looking up how to make homemade bombs to bring to school in an act of revenge?
The World Wide Web is just that – a web of information connecting you to the world. Kids can’t comprehend that and should not be given free roam within. But what is a parent to do?
Use technology. Educate yourself. Talk to you kids… and protect your family and your child’s bests interests with monitoring software like PC Pandora! 
Tune in to PBS tonight. Check your local listings… it plays in NYC at 9PM.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Thanks for the heads up..Will look into it for sure
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I’m happy that popular culture is finally paying attention to the serious threat possessed by unmonitored online social activity for children and hope this shows raises awareness amongst the General public
January 26th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Do you realize that nearly 80% of all abuse online is just kids being stupid?
Do you think that any predator can harm someone through a monitor? That they are some how able to reach through the screen and abuse a person? Or do you think it would be better to teach a kid how NOT to respond and push that instead?
January 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Kids: it’s not just predators… it’s cyberbullying, it’s posting stupid videos of yourself that will deny you a college acceptance down the road… it’s “kids” being kids. There’s no difference between the way I used to act as a kid around town with my 5 or 6 friends and the way kids act online today with their 5 or 6000 friends… except the fact that EVERYONE can see what they do! That is something that kids just don’t understand or comprehend. Many adults don’t either. I am aware of the statistics… I know the abductions are a lot fewer than purported in the media and that most encounters come from teens actively seeking them out – but it doesn’t mean its not happening and it also doesn’t mean that the small percentage will want to talk about it with their parents. Usually, those are the kids that DON’T talk to their parents – issue that it is up to the parents to STILL have the best interest of their child at heart. Our software, PC Pandora – and ones like it – make it possible for parents to do so.
Word.