Censorship of the Internet for Children Essay -- Computers Technology

Censorship of the Internet for Children The Internet is one of the most profound and important technological advancements of this era. It has touched the lives of hundreds of millions of people all over the world. The Internet has become so embedded into our everyday life that for many, life would almost be unbearable without an internet connection. The Internet has enabled so many people who are so far away from each other a means of communication. It eased the burden of contacting loved ones across the world from each other. Not only does the Internet provide a digital communication playground for users, it also provides them with a sea of invaluable resources. The wealth of information that is available on the Internet is both overwhelming and incredible. Almost everything imaginable to the human mind can be found on the Internet. Whether or not some of this information is legitimate, it still exists and is available to anyone who wants to access it. The Internet has empowered the individuals who are connected t o it with an abundance of resources and information. The Internet has brought about a new means of doing business. It seems that all business models today include the Internet some how. On the surface, the Internet may seem great, wonderful and ingenious however, the ability for everyone to access the Internet is both a blessing and also a curse. It is beautiful that the Internet and its contents are available to everyone, but that â€Å"everyone† includes children who are under the age of 18. The implications of this type of access are extremely problematic both socially and ethically. According to Internet World Stats, the estimated population of the world is about 6.45 billion people with approximately... ...itehouse.com/ â€Å"Whitehouse.com† [11] http://www.craiglist.com â€Å"Visit the Best in Adult Sites† [12] http://www.snapshotspy.com/stats.htm â€Å"Child Computer Usage Statistics† [13] http://www.utilitarianism.com/utilitarian.htm â€Å"Utilitarianism† [14] http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031025-1.html â€Å"Protection From Pornography Week, 2003†, President of the U.S, Oct. 25, 2003 [15] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58610-2002Nov15.html â€Å"Congress Approves ‘Dot-Kids’ Measure†, David Maguire, Nov. 12, 2002 [16] http://www.kids.us/sitelist.html â€Å"Current Site List† [17] http://www.icra.org/ â€Å"Internet Content Rating Association† [18] http://www.icra.org/_en/about/ â€Å"ICRA At A Glance† [19] http://www.isc.meiji.ac.jp/~sumwel_h/links/linkJ04.htm â€Å"Laws of Japan† [20] http://www.ageofconsent.com/japan.htm â€Å"Age of Consent for Japan†