GolfHos

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21116555/

Miss America launches own browser
Kid-friendly browser designed to keep children away from dangerous sites

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Seven years ago, 13-year-old Lauren Nelson and a few friends entered an Internet chat room during a sleepover. Within a week, an online predator was e-mailing one of them lurid photos.

"We were chatting with people we didn't know, which was our first mistake, and someone asked for our personal information," she said. "A week later, he sent some inappropriate pictures to one of my friends. We were all scared, and told our parents, who contacted the authorities."

Now Nelson, who is the reigning Miss America, is the centerpiece of a new kid-friendly Internet browser designed to keep children away from dangerous online sites and contacts.

LMAO

Really?

I realize there are lots of ways to keep your kids away from the freaks and nothing beats, errrrmmm, actually knowing WTF they're doing but I applaud all approaches.  This one seems non-intrusive, entirely optional and hopefully fairly effective.

Sure, it sounds great, but what if you got rid of the 'Miss America' affiliation (I'm sure a lot of ten year old boys would be happy), and if you made sure that all 10,318 Web sites were not some kind of kiddie-spam, it would work.

Wait, maybe you could set your browser up yourself to do the same things!

::)

Even EAGLE is cynical.  Uisce surrenders too.

lol, you forgot the flag though. ;) :yield:

rofl

Just think there's a bit of self-promotion involved.  Not to mention, if it was a browser I was using, and it won't be, I'd get sick of her popping up for every session.  Let me rephrase that, before she appeared for the first time I'd be tired of it. 

Also not to mention, it looks all frilly and annoying.  I couldn't stand that gui for 10 minutes.  Even as a kid, I liked practical and useful.  You're talking to the kid who always had her crayons arranged according to the spectrum.  Useful, organized, practical, logical, etc.

I also won't be downloading it for the little ones.  When they're old enough to have internet privileges, we'll do our own customizing. 


Firefox does not surrender - Firefox rulez!

Just a little. ;)

I don't think it's targeted at 20 year old young ladies.   ;)

I think once one has children one takes all the help one can get.  My son wanted me to buy him a "clean" song from ITMS this evening.  Well, it was rap of sorts and I have this little policy when it comes to rap.  No matter what I peek at the lyrics.  I got an eyeful on this particular tune.  Let's just say it was NSFE&T.

Trust me, something like this for my eight year old...  I'm all over it.

1.  Bingo.

2.  Bingo.

Stroh beat me to it but you're dead on. Of course my almost 11 year old is starting to use the internet more and more for school and such so I'm keeping my eye on everything.

My little one is captivated by princesses and that's what Miss America looks like. I could see something like this being useful.

Yay, reinforcements.   ;) ;D

Haha. ;D

Us 'old' guys have to stick together. We need all the help we can get.  :D

Young whippersnappers these days, why I oughta........

Older people these days, forget what they were going to say before they can even say it. ;) ;D

lol.  I'm sure it's not aimed toward me, either. 

Actually, Miss America parading around the screen isn't a great thing for kids anyway.  But that's a personal opinion.

I really am for things like this, but you can do just as much to Firefox to make the web kid-safe.  Web nannies, host files, plugins like noscript, adblock plus, etc., can all be useful tools.  More time consuming, but then you absolutely know what you're kid is seeing, and not relying on someone else's definition of safe.  Check the browsing history on a regular basis.  Talk to your kids.  Be very involved. 

This Miss America browser can be a good thing, and I do like how she added that parents should be involved, but sometimes the less you have to do, the less involved you become.  Also, granted, not everyone knows how to use the host file and other things, so that is one reason why I think the browser could be a good thing.  But that also means that they might think the browser alone can take care of most of their problems, but it can't take the place of an involved parent.  I do see positives to the browser; it's just that I see some negatives, too.

Btw, [sm_thumbsup2] to having rules established early on in regard to music (and probably other areas, too).  I know a few families who are now struggling with their kids from not doing so. 

(And I really like the NSFE&T line. :))

lol! 

I'm not really against you.  Just an ally whose opinion only slightly differs.


I'm hesitant towards people becoming more hands-off when they receive technological help/programs, than the technology/progam itself.

Run to us for help whenever there's a computer problem? ;)

hehe

I don't think we've implied that as any help in this area should be welcomed. Something like this wouldn't change my policing of computer usage.  ;) :)

Agree that Miss America may not be the "best" role model but she's far from the worst. That would be Miss South Carolina.  [sm_devil]

Good points, Nat.

I was tied up earlier, and didn't have time to type.  I hate to pull out the "Parent" card, because few people on this board fall into that demo, and get tired of hearing about it.

This may be hokey, and not worth the download, but I can tell you Maddie would love a program/browser where Miss America comes out and "talks" to her.  I like the idea of it being highly restrictive.
I parent my child, but at the same time I am human.  As she grows (society today) will require her to be connected electronically more often than I can have her on my lap clicking for her.  If a product like this helps bridge that gap........I'll check it out.

It is my intent that  :airquotes: 14 y/o F. Calif.  :airquotes: :glasses: Never makes contact with her. 

That's good.  'Cause it shouldn't. :D

If it was Miss South Carolina, I hope a map would be included.
If it was Miss South Carolina, I think almost everyone would be wary. ;)

Thanks. :)

I try not to pull out a "parent" card too often, too, 'specially 'cause I'm not a parent. :D  However, I am learning a lot from having siblings that are 15 and 18 years younger than me.  (And, yes, sometimes they think of me as a second mom.  It's nice in a way.  But sometimes I miss just being a sibling to them.)

The point about society is very valid, and definitely something to consider.  In fact, the reason we did finally get a computer was because of the changes that were becoming so obvious in this area.  My parents would be perfectly content without one, but also realize that, especially for the younger generations, it's rather impractical and can actually be inhibiting, not to mention almost impossible. 

The fact that you can't always be by your child when they are doing something is a good reason to take precautions.  This browser or your own customization to Firefox (or another browser that allows a lot of tweaks) is a good step (I prefer the latter).  But there are lots of other things to do, too.

Yeah, I hope 14 yr. old Calif (or any of his/her friends) never makes contact with Maddie, either.  She sounds like a sweet girl.  Or makes contact with any of you GHer's kids, for that matter.  (If I'm not careful, I'm going to go down another rabbit trail.)


Like I said in another post, I know people who are now regretting things they should have done sooner.
One is now regretting not being up on what their child was involving herself in when she was 13.  By the time they realized it and wanted to add restrictions, they were bucked and weren't able to fully establish it (partly because they hadn't really established family rules or parental control, partly because they had somewhat "given up" on the rule before they made it (didn't enforce it), partly because they didn't have the knowledge of what to do to help enforce it, and I think they also caught it much too "late").  That went on for years, now that "girl" is a "legal adult", and they still have problems with her whenever she's home (which isn't often because she's always away with friends or at her dad's house because he doesn't have any guidelines). 

Another family, is now struggling because they weren't aware of everything you could do with a computer and were caught off-guard.  They're in the process of setting down rules.  But it's hard for a kid to follow them when they're friends are trying to persuade them otherwise.

There are other instances, too.  I'm trying to learn from other people's experiences.  And one thing I've really noticed, is how important it is to be involved in your children's lives.  And to set the groundwork down early so you don't have to regret it later.  (Yeah, that's two things.)


Those of you with kids, enjoy them.  And I hope you don't have the regrets from the same mistakes that so many other people are suffering from.

It's interesting to see a point of view I just don't have. Having 3 boys there are some things you worry about less. Not that the threat is any less for them you just worry less. Not having a girl or even having a sister I have no idea what it's like for girls. My wife and some women at work have given me a clue but it only makes me glad I have boys. I do not envy any dads of girls. If you don't have an ulcer by the time they are 14, you area  strong man.

Me I only have to worry about 3 *8==>*s, fathers of daughters have to worry about all of them.

I do believe, young lady, that this is the second time I've agreed with you.  My two sons and I grew through the beginning of the internet together.  Luckily, I was just barely smart enough to keep tabs on them.  We discussed what they did and where they went.

They are 28 and 25 now, so I don't worry.  If I had young children now, I would worry.

Second time in this thread or second time overall?  Either way, that's 8). 

Thanks.  Hearing that was encouraging.