Newer generations and the internet.

[spankythehippo]

I'll give a bit of back story before I get to my question. My aunt has asked me for advice regarding computer related stuff. She doesn't want her 10 year old daughter, who accesses the computer and internet quite a bit, to be exposed to all the NSFW stuff on the internet. She asked me because she knows I'm well versed in the macabre and gruesome. She doesn't want her daughter to be disturbed/corrupted/influenced by what she sees on the internet.

So, should children bear witness to all of the internets glory or should they be sheltered from it (and be completely shocked when they turn 20 and wake up from a hangover to see meatspin on their screen)?

I actually have no answer for this myself. In a way, exposing the children to vile things might give them an awareness of the comings and goings of the world. But 10 is too young. Maybe.

I started jerking off at the age of 10. When I got into high school, porn mags would be the currency of the school yard. Of course, the porn mags didn't have lemon party in them. In fact, most of the mags were just "tasteful" nudes. So nothing too extreme. I had/have to release my load every now and again to maintain my sanity. It's just natural. I can comfortably say that 15 onwards is a suitable age to witness tub girl as a dude (not the weirdest sentence I have written). However, I'm no girl, so I don't know how they will react to the really disturbing stuff on the internet. I can't even empathise with their thoughts on it. I've seen so many mixed reactions from females in response to the memes. A significant amount of them laughed a lot. A few just said "Why am I seeing this?". Only one was disturbed. These women are the same age group as me, and we didn't peruse the internet very much when we were 10 (partly because it was crap back then and partly because all we did was IMing).

Thoughts?

EDIT: If you are unaware of some of the memes I mentioned and are about to google them, I am not responsible for mental anguish/computer damage from vomiting all over the screen and keyboard. Explore at your own peril.

[Fragony]

First thing that comes to mind is that you were a completily normal teen, you are supposed to be bleeding and sweating hormones. People shouldn't worry about this kind of stuff there is nothing wrong with it.

[HopAlongBunny]

My default answer to that comes courtesy of a lady I worked with:

"Do you download porn?"
"Uhm"
"Do you have an internet connection?"
"Yes"
You have an internet connection, you have a pulse: You download porn"
Case solved.

She didn't even give me room for a clever evasion; it will happen, they or others will expose them to it; if they've been taught to respect others and not treat them as objects you just have to trust them to make good choices?

[Sp4]

I haven't even see half the things you mentioned and I thought I had quite some idea =P

Don't ISP's packages come with security settings for children these days (I have seen it in place already and it seemed quite good at what it was supposed to do). I'd say turn the ISP's filter on and then turn it off when they get older or whatever. Some of the stuff on the internet is pretty disturbing but in time everyone will learn that 'this is the internet' and how to avoid seeing disturbing things.

[ICantSpellDawg]

NSFW = not safe for women

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think it's good to be sheltered to some degree. Believe it or not, teaching young people that the word is a brutal, unfair, degrading place doesn't really do much to help mould functioning members of society.

There are some things that people just don't need to see, especially children. Regular exposure might not create a resistance, but in fact lead to normalization.

Regarding the comparison in the OP, I'm not talking about the sort of stuff you would see in lads mags - besides my usual moralizing, I don't think that causes any real psychological damage. I'm talking about the really messed up stuff that only the internet seems to host. You get it even on very mainstream, popular sites. I stopped visiting the bodybuilding forums because I got fed up of some of some of the sick 'shock value' stuff the trolls were posting. I would feel sorry for a kid that reads that stuff, I think it's just depressing. And I remain voluntarily sheltered, besides BBC news this is the only site I regularly visit.

If I had kids I probably wouldn't even let them on the internet, I know some parents that have this policy, and they aren't the type to needlessly shelter kids - they let them go outside and scrape their knees and be normal children in the way that most parents don't these days.

[HoreTore]

Kids are going to see porn and other vile stuff, accept the idea and move on. Fighting it is futile, as kids are naturally curious creatures; and sex is extremely interesting to us all. When you've accepted that fact, you can start figuring out how to deal with it.

Besides, how is it worse to see sex on the internet compared to watching people get killed every night on TV...?

Just keep a close look on social media interactions to keep her away from the pedos and you'll be okay.

[rvg]

Besides, how is it worse to see sex on the internet compared to watching people get killed every night on TV...?

They're more likely to try it at home as opposed to trying to kill someone.

[Sarmatian]

They're more likely to try it at home as opposed to trying to kill someone.

And the consequences of them trying sex are most of the time much less of an issue than trying to kill someone.

[rvg]

And the consequences of them trying sex are most of the time much less of an issue than trying to kill someone.

Doesn't make it a good thing though.

[HoreTore]

They're more likely to try it at home as opposed to trying to kill someone.

OH MY GOD ARE KIDS GOING TO HAVE SEX?!!??!?!??!??!!??!

Of course they are. Deal with it.

Sex is awesome, of course the kids are going to want it. With or without porn. The recipe is the same as with social media: set them free, but keep them away from the pedos.

[Fragony]

Wrong thread scuzu

[Fragony]

Wrong thread, screw ipad it doesn't work

[lars573]

And the consequences of them trying sex are most of the time much less of an issue than trying to kill someone.

In some parts of the US teen sex is almost as bad as murder. Considering the worst case scenario of both.

[The Lurker Below]

What do you mean, you have no answer for this? She says she wants no NSFW content. Is she asking you re: how to avoid it? If you're not certain, consider yourself with a baby girl and what you would want some freak monster exposing her to. You may think 10 old enough, but when it's your child it will still be your baby when it's 25. Aunt is not looking for your opinion on Internet morality. I don't think you' expose yourself to a 10 y.o. - cousin or not. Don't let some freak stranger do it either. There are programs and settings to make the net mostly harmless. Yes, a person can work around that. But let that be a conscious effort on the child's part.

[Rhyfelwyr]

OH MY GOD ARE KIDS GOING TO HAVE SEX?!!??!?!??!??!!??!

Of course they are. Deal with it.

Actually, quite a lot of them do not, because they do not share your values.

[HoreTore]

Actually, quite a lot of them do not, because they do not share your values.

....And if they don't because they don't "share my values", then just what on earth is the danger with the internet...?

Irrelevant point, Rhy. Was your intention to add something to the thread, or was it simply to flag your conservative morals?

[rvg]

....And if they don't because they don't "share my values", then just what on earth is the danger with the internet...?

Irrelevant point, Rhy. Was your intention to add something to the thread, or was it simply to flag your conservative morals?

There is no good reason to expose kids to sex prematurely. None.

[Rhyfelwyr]

....And if they don't because they don't "share my values", then just what on earth is the danger with the internet...?

Irrelevant point, Rhy. Was your intention to add something to the thread, or was it simply to flag your conservative morals?

Um, it was a response to your point, which wasn't really all that relevant either. But threads evolve so there you go.

And regarding your question about why the internet would be bad for those who would want to avoid certain things on it, I would point out that exposure to them is often not voluntary. And children in particular might be more vulnerable in that regard.

I think for a lot of people their first exposure to pornographic material was in the form of unwanted pop-ups, it was for me anyway.

Even at TWC I remember them having threads about that kids ponies show, where they made up stories about it describing horrific torture scenes. Now, a kid could easily come across that if they were interested in TW games or ponies, and read that material. Would I want that sort of stuff filling my kid's heads? Absolutely not.

[a completely inoffensive name]

The internet is toxic to anyone under 14. Period. Extreme parental measures should be taken to make sure that kids don't develop weird psychological issues stemming from seeing a 9 inch snake attached to a man and believing that is "normal".

Also, the internet is poisonous in large doses to anyone between 14-20.

[Fragony]

There is no good reason to expose kids to sex prematurely. None.

Depends on how you look at it, I see sex as a positive thing, not as a vice.

[Hax]

Maybe the both of y'all have a different idea of what "kid" means. Define that, first.

[Fragony]

Maybe the both of y'all have a different idea of what "kid" means. Define that, first.

Not sure. But, somewhere 12+ probably. For me as a 36 old twelve is of course unacceptable, but I don't have a problem untill 18 with a twelve year old or so. After that it kinda starts to feel wrong, but I still wouldn't really have problem with it, certainly wouldn't act on it but turn a blind eye. I don't really know the red line.

[Rhyfelwyr]

Not sure. But, somewhere 12+ probably. For me as a 36 old twelve is of course unacceptable, but I don't have a problem untill 18 with a twelve year old or so. After that it kinda starts to feel wrong, but I still wouldn't really have problem with it, certainly wouldn't act on it but turn a blind eye. I don't really know the red line.

I might be reading you wrong, but are you saying you don't see a problem with a 17 year-old sleeping with a 12 year-old?!

[Fragony]

I might be reading you wrong, but are you saying you don't see a problem with a 17 year-old sleeping with a 12 year-old?!

Well yeah, I don't have a problem with that. Did it myself actually.

[spankythehippo]

Well yeah, I don't have a problem with that. Did it myself actually.

So, who was the 17 year old you banged?

[Fragony]

So, who was the 17 year old you banged?

She could be your psychiatrist if you have one.

[HoreTore]

There is no good reason to expose kids to sex prematurely. None.

Yeah, heaven forbid they actually develop a healthy attitude towards it. That would be horrible!!

No, let's treat it as a sin and watch our kids commit suicide later. Much better!

[a completely inoffensive name]

As if the internet constitutes anything close to education. Do you guys even want to see what the actual argument is, or just pretend we are all religious prudes that want our children to save it until they're 28?

[a completely inoffensive name]

I'm just saying that in today's world your kid is gonna know way too much already by the time they're even 10. Unless you want your kid to be totally subverted by the prevailing culture then you had better start talking to them like adults early.

Nope, nope, nope. This sentiment just reeks of laziness. Absolute laziness among parents or soon to be parents.

Contrary to popular belief, the internet is not "everywhere". It is located entirely on computers.

Computers which can be placed in the living room instead of the child's bedroom.
Computers which can be password protected in order to get to the desktop.
Computers which have built in parental controls. Using browsers with built in controls. With available add-ons to provide additional parental controls.

Despite what you may think, there are still dumb phones which do not have 5 inch screens and internet available for young kids. Let's even disregard the "silly" notion that kids under 14 don't need a phone at all. There is no reason why we must accept that children are going to be seeing 9 inch penises, enter the cosmetically enhanced vagina's of surgically altered women before they even hit puberty.

Treating children like adults will only bring about a society that knows nothing about the concept of innocence, which only spells disaster for our collective concepts of morality and social health.


Lazy parents, all of you.