The+inherent+problems+with+internet+censorship

**Online safety **

One major problem that is inherent for Digital Natives is online safety. It does not tak e a long time before an internet user encounters undesirable, abusive, exploitive, or violent online content, and with the large amounts of time that Digital Natives spend online they are extremely prone to victimization. Donald F. Theall (1997) lists some of the specific dangers that children are in danger of accessing information about online: "explosives; terrorism; drugs; all modes of sexual activity; indecent and offensive speech, including 'hate speech'; permitting various predators, especially pedophiles opportunities to stalk children; and various pornographers, and rapists to threaten or harass women" (Canada and the information highway section, para. 1). Obv iously not many people want th eir children to come in contact with any content or information of the aforementioned type. Thus, internet censorship is a hot topic in for Digital Natives, as well as their parents and educators.

Many parents, school librarians, internet s ervice providers and even nations (ISPs) try to improve online safety for digital natives by installing filtering software that blocks undesirable content. Filtering software is a fairly successful method of blocking undesirable online content. However, in many cases filtering can do more harm than good.

One problem with using filtering software to censor the internet is that by blocking key words or phrases, the software inadvertently blocks access to large amounts of information. For example, as author Alvin Schrader (2009) points out "targeting [the word] 'sex' blocks out the NASA site marsexplorer.com, the works of poet Ann Sexton, sexual harrassment sites and information about sexually transmitted diseases" (para. 10). Furthermore, Schrader points out that "context is often ignored and one four-letter word becomes more important that 400 pages of a story" (para. 14). Even more distressing is the fact that blocking out key words can have the effect of blocking out vital help sites; sites that give directions to individuals who have been victimized online (ScruffyDan, 2005, para. 2). Furthermore, because of the sheer amount of new information and web sites appearing on the internet, filtering software is, in fact, often ineffective. Alvin Schrader (2009) states that it is estimated that "the number of new sites appearing each day [is close to] 3,000 in the US alone (para. 7). Not only are there new web sites for filtering software organizations to deal with daily, Schrader remarks that "the essential ambiguities of language, text, reader, rating and blocking methods ensure the failure of automated filtering" (para. 21). The ineffectiveness of filtering software leads Schrader to crudely, but aptly, remark that "internet blocking software is like performing brain surgery with a chainsaw" (para. 29).

Another problem with internet censorship is the fact that digital natives are not limited to using desktop computers to access the internet either at home or in school. A large percentage of digital natives carry around completely uncensored mobile devices with internet browsing and social networking capabilities throughout the day. Therefore, internet safety is an issue anytime and anywhere for Digital Natives, not only in classrooms.

Also, internet censorship can infringe upon the basic Canadian right of freedom of expression; a right that is one of the main factors that contribute to the popularity and success of the net (Manohar, 2008, para. 2). For example, Facebook, one of the major social networking sites online, is currently being accused of media type="custom" key="5259395" which directly inhibits freedom of speech (Kirkpatrick, 2008). For more information on global internet censorship and the restriction of personal rights, please watch the following video. media type="youtube" key="rFhbSolKWP0" height="344" width="425" Video link

Fortunately, internet filtering software is not the only method of achieving online safety. Online safety can also be achieved by educating children from an early age to use the internet safely and responsibly. Next Page