While I applaud the effort to keep children safe from predator's that lurk on the internet, it seems like an unworkable proposition to make it illegal for them to access social networking sites. Such is the case with House File 130 being co-authored by Representative Severson (R).
How does one effectively police this type of situation? The only way someone is found to be an online sexual predator is typically after the damage has been done. If your goal is keeping children safe, we need to find ways to stop the initial predatory act.
After this point, how many resources will it take to police their internet usage and online memberships? How much liability is there on the part of these sites to keep predator's such as the ones described in this bill of of their membership rolls? These are but some of the questions that I have when dealing with laws of this nature.
I would suggest that a far more effective solution would be continued and increased education for those youngsters who are most vulnerable to being seduced by an online predator. Related to this legislation is a recent study (although somewhat controversial) that makes the claim that children are safer online than we had previously thought. In fact, the study indicates that children are far more likely to be harrassed and bullied online by someone they know than be subject to an online sexual predator.
How does one effectively police this type of situation? The only way someone is found to be an online sexual predator is typically after the damage has been done. If your goal is keeping children safe, we need to find ways to stop the initial predatory act.
After this point, how many resources will it take to police their internet usage and online memberships? How much liability is there on the part of these sites to keep predator's such as the ones described in this bill of of their membership rolls? These are but some of the questions that I have when dealing with laws of this nature.
I would suggest that a far more effective solution would be continued and increased education for those youngsters who are most vulnerable to being seduced by an online predator. Related to this legislation is a recent study (although somewhat controversial) that makes the claim that children are safer online than we had previously thought. In fact, the study indicates that children are far more likely to be harrassed and bullied online by someone they know than be subject to an online sexual predator.
