Google's Schmidt: Kids Need 'Online Talk' Before Sex Talk

[JMcEntegart]

Eric Schmidt talks kids on the web with Reuters.

Google's Schmidt: Kids Need 'Online Talk' Before Sex Talk : Read more

 

[bugidugi]

Schmidt was probebly a virgin nerd till he was 21. (he does have a good point though

 

[Yuka]

Totally valid point. And agreed. Kids today have such an early access to tha interwebz and we all know what that means.

So yeah, pretty much spot on.

Now, how can we explain what's going on in the interwebz to a 7-8 year old kid? And don't give me the "SUCH YOUNG AGE!!!" crap, you know at that age a kid knows how to surf the web.

Cheers!

 

[mrmaia]

Fully agree with pretty much every word said by Schmidt, adding that the Internet can in fact drive those very same teens (and children) to sex, consensual or not - and so, sex education should be a part of the Internet.

 

[freggo]

While I agree I would like to point out that most adults should get that talk when buying their first smart phone!

Due to my job I get large numbers of photographs sent to me, some of them racy in nature. And you would not believe how many of them are from iPhones, complete with GPS data intact.

Somebody is not telling people that a phone that can show a map with your current location can also attach said info to the photo you took of yourself at home; and then posted "anonymously" to a dating site !

 

[cats_Paw]

and it's important for parents to educate their children

This was always important, not just now, and this is what most parents dont do.
Time are "always" diffrent than "when I was young".

 

[cats_Paw]

"Times" .

 

[A Bad Day]

I see little kids with tablets or smartphones nowadays. Scary.

 

[rohitbaran]

Agreed. Kids go online first before they even go to school, I guess.

 

[noreaster]

This makes me wonder how I will approach the topic when I have offspring. I know that the idea of internet privacy is more of a delusion than a practice, and how do I educate my future children to be wise in their actions online when they are naive to the dangers of the world (and the internet). Telling a child (or anyone) "don't go here, don't post that" only has limited effectiveness, I myself am undoubtedly guilty of posting more information than I should and I have no doubt that given a meager effort and easily acquired tools one could discover my identity and play havoc in my life. Children of today and tomorrow need to be so careful and posses such foresight as to avoid costly mistakes when those qualities are not adequately developed until well into adulthood.

 

[JOSHSKORN]

The Internet, just like which the implementation of everything else, the US Constitution, wasn't done right. Sometime down the road you realize things should've been done differently.

Personally, I don't think webcams or webcam apps or websites should be available to anyone under the age of 16.

Parental controls on Windows, OS, Smartphones, Tablets, iPods HAVE TO get better.

If there isn't already, there needs to be some sort of app that can detect if you're sharing pornography or not. Sexting is a big problem, as well.

Also, they need to find a way to make it next to impossible to hide your identity online. Some of these sites allow you to link your profile to things like Facebook and Twitter, and the user can set up access to anyone or only those with Facebook, Twitter or whatever. Even so, it's better, but still not full-proof. Where there's a will (or in this case, a coward), there's a way.

 

[wildkitten]

What is really needed is for parents to act like parents and stop trying to be friends with their kids and keep track of what their children are doing and learn to say no and how to discipline.

It has shocked me before to walk in a friends home and see them let their children watch some of the most explicit things even on Youtube with language and such.

And I am not some "old prude". I am a 25 year old who is finishing my elementary education degree. It is shocking, and disheartening, some of the things that go on. My parents were very strict on me, and yes, I hated it at the time. Like all kids, I did not have the ability to comprehend and understand at the time what they were trying to do. That took more life experience. However now I am very grateful to them because they gave me a solid foundation.

 

[Pyree]

"Dad, where does the internet come from?"
"Well son, I think it's time for the talk."

 

[Raid3r]

I disagree, almost completely. There are to many stories, and documented facts that *obscurity* does not equate to *security*; the TSA being a prime example. Personally, from what I have noticed that really ruins futures for kids, mid-tall people, and tall people, are really out dated and ridiculous laws. If a few misguided acts can "ruin" your future then that says more about our society and it's dictatorial ideals than the acts themselves. Just because we can "know" more about people than we used to, does nothing more than change, what you had not known......grow up.

 

[fb39ca4]

[citation][nom]mrmaia[/nom]Fully agree with pretty much every word said by Schmidt, adding that the Internet can in fact drive those very same teens (and children) to sex, consensual or not - and so, sex education should be a part of the Internet.[/citation]
The internet *is* sex education.

 

[bitmaiden]

The thing is, many parents need the *internet talk* much more than their teenagers.

 

[guardianangel42]

Sure, we can make this a mandatory part of parenting... just as soon as parents know enough about computers to give it.

What's that you say? Most parents know less about the internet than a GeekSquad employee?

Seriously, how can you really expect a parent to teach their child how to safely exist on the internet when a HUGE portion of the population is computer illiterate? How can you expect these parents to give a Internet Talk when they themselves don't even run antivirus?

 

[anti-painkilla]

Google launches its own web tutorials for teaching your children to be safe on the internet?

Never use your own name on profiles.

Never post photos of yourself unless you know every single one person that has access to them.

Teach them how to set who can look at profile and photos.

Tell them that any photos or videos that they take can and usually end up on the internet, so if they don't want anyone to see them, don't take them. And never believe anyone who says 'I promise I won't show them to anyone'.

Ect...

 

[kingnoobe]

Computer online talk.. As soon as they can use a computer.

Sex talk, if they're old enough to ask they're old enough to know.

 

[Guest]

I'm gonna say something unpopular that will be down-voted. Ready for it? Here it goes:

Kids should not be allowed on the internet. A person should not be able to use the internet until they reach the age of majority. Many kids do not have the mental maturity to use the internet responsibly and therefore need to be protected from it before they do something they will regret. This is like why you don't allow kids to smoke, drink, or drive until they get older.