The Web's Dark Side

Some kids use the internet for nothing but research or e-mail. But this year an estimated 20 million kids will go on line. According to a Time/CNN poll almost half will check out an x-rated site, a quarter will hit on a hate site, and over 10 percent will see a web site that shows where or how to buy a gun.

The dark side of the web is often easy access for kids, from hate sites to hard core porn with real-life gore, cult, bomb-making, and bondage sites in between. “It’s just another place you need to be careful,” says 17- year-old Amanda. “It’s like going to a bad part of town.”

But in this high tech, fast moving world, many parents have given their more tech- savvy kids the keys to the computer kingdom. Mark Ivey, author of PC Dads, says it’s time for parents to regain control “What we tell those people is go back to ground zero, start over, unplug the computer if you have to. Sit down and write a contract,” says Ivey.

Ivey says the contract should clearly explain what kids can and can’t do online. Parents should monitor internet sites closely, use computer game ratings as a guide, and consider blocking all offensive content.

 What Parents Should Know

One of the latest crazes for kids is on line games. Players get to “frag” or kill each other all the while taunting their opponent with the “chat” feature. Some experts worry these violent games can blur the line between fantasy and reality. The Interactive Digital Software Assocation has established a video ratings guide for parents developed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Videos are evaluated and rated in the following catagories:

EC – Early Childhood for kids over age three.

E – For everyone aged six and up.

T – For teens ages 13 and older. These videos could include mild to strong language and some adult themes.

M – For mature audiences ages seventeen and above. These videos generally include stronger themes and language than the T rated videos.

AO – For adults only which includes those 18 and older. These videos may include graphic sex and violence The ratings also can include descriptions about the amount of violence, sex and questionable language in the videos.