"Portable Porn Machine"

[JimG]

Of course they are legitimate. They can be used for a wide variety of purposes that are both moral and immoral. Technology in itself is generally morally neutral.

Yes. Just as a library is a source of information and morally neutral. But if an elementary school library had a porn section open to every child’s perusal, would parents object?

 

[DeniseNY]

As much as a cell phone has advantages eg travelling out of town or truck drivers that need to make a delivery, IMO that is where it ends. I think that it is making people unsociable. Once someone call me to say ‘hi’ while they were shopping in a mall I found that offensive. Why didn’t he just do his shopping and make a coffee date later.

Or one liner texts just bug me. Once I saw a three girls decide to have their work break together, and once they got to the cafeteria, they all jumped on their phone and ignored each other Why bother going to break together if you aren’t going to talk ?

IMO all these phones are just creating rude people

Somebody calling to say “hi” is offensive?

 

[anon67074017]

Yes. Just as a library is a source of information and morally neutral. But if an elementary school library had a porn section open to every child’s perusal, would parents object?

Parents would object. That would mean that the school is promoting porn. The internet has content generated by its users. It does not generate content on its own. Therefore, the internet does not offer porn by itself. One has to choose to access porn.

 

[JimG]

Parents would object. That would mean that the school is promoting porn. The internet has content generated by its users. It does not generate content on its own. Therefore, the internet does not offer porn by itself. One has to choose to access porn.

Just as one would have to choose to access porn which is located in a public library. The internet provides content from anywhere and everywhere in the world and makes one’s own information available to anyone in the world. I know some people who publish online blogs and link them to all their social media. They put a lot of personal information in there. Do they realize that their information is available to hackers, international mafia, criminal traffickers, and hordes of voyeurs all over the world? Do parents realize that a child’s phone opens every dark side of the world to the child and opens the child’s world to the whole world? Porn providers love to provide content to everyone. Hackers love to accumulate personal information and sell it. The internet makes what would have been a useful information gadget into a dangerous gadget. We don’t give a child a credit card and allow him to travel the world alone; but we do give him a smart phone and allow him to travel the world alone.

 

[SuperLuigi]

In the “public school” (keeping 8th grade child catholic) thread a couple of posters referred to smart phones “portable porn machines.” I was curious if this is how most catholics on this site view these types of devices.

It’s interesting that all the Catholic High Schools in my area actually require some sort of tablet/smart phone/internet capable device for each student. Teachers will use resources available online and expect the kids to have access to those things–it is a requirement. While I’m sure there are rules about usage during class times, they are certainly permitted to use them throughout the day while not in class.

Our catholic middleschool does not allow usage of these devices during the school day–kids can only access the internet through the computer lab devices.

While I certainly acknowledge that there is inappropriate and potentially dangerous material to be accessed on the web, I am not a fan of a super restrictive school policy on these devices–especially in high school (and the 8th grade child in the original thread is just one year away).

I’ll elaborate more if there is interest, but for starters I have 4 girls 12-18 years of age and 3 of the 4 have smart phones. We have all social media acct info (for those we allow) and can access it anytime. We can look at their phones at anytime to check texts, call logs, whatever.

So, “portable porn devices” or legitmate tools for communication and accessing information?

Wow, there’s a lot to discuss here. A few points:

The WORST thing any parent could do in these situations is not pay attention. Being able to check usage logs is always a good idea. It’s also important for parents to be able to know how to use the technology. The idea of siting on the couch laughing to yourself that you’re clueless on electronics and even drafting your kids to fix things means they could get away with a lot on such things, and it’s just your average mill porn that one needs to worry about. Child sex predators and even ISIS recruiters have had success on social media on luring teens into their evil clutches, and while less of a problem today record companies went after a couple of youngsters who pirated their music.

So I am glad to see an active role on here.

The other thing is that when if they go to college and/or have a job, they’ll pretty much be in situations where they have to use the technology. So it is important for them to learn.

 

[Anglewannabe]

One liner texts are supposed to be informative and non-intrusive. I told a friend about a hot sale at the grocery store that way after she and I had discussed the topic generally in person earlier in the week.
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Well, I do see that as acceptable because there is a good reason to the one-liner. But not all of them are like that.

Nonetheless, I resent talking on the phone when I have to compete for the persons attention with the distractions of shopping

 

[mommy_k]

Yes I agree that a phone can be a dangerous thing for youngsters.

I have older kids, and when cell phones first came out, I was able to get them phones when they were quite young and just proved they would not lose them. Back then, phones did not have a data option and maybe had a game or 2 installed.

Now for my younger childen, they can’t understand why they have to be alot older to have a phone, as they have to prove to me that they are responsible on so many other levels.

I am also over the competition of what kind of cell phone, gaming console, tablet etc…that parents around here get sucked into because thier child’s friend has one… There are friends of our younger chikdren, who have had I phones since kindergarten, with full data.

So it’s difficult, because even if your own family has rules, at recess, the younger children have access to perhaps unmonitored data on friends phones…we are fortunate though because in our children’s elementary school, phones are to be kept in backpacks as this is a catholic school, but it is not what I am hearing from my public school parents friends.

At home our younger children are not allowed to play inside any friends house unless I know the parents well. If I see a phone or tablet outside when they are playing I am right there.

 

[Rico_S]

Statistics show that children are accidentally exposed to pornographic content in the Internet before puberty.

Others have said something similar…that porn can accidentally be stubmbled upon. Honestly, I just don’t find this to be the case anymore. I will say that many years ago, it was relatively common for some porn ad to pop up while browsing, but with today’s browers…doesn’t happen to me (and I don’t have some filter installed other than standard browser). I spend a lot of time on the web and it never happens. I’m sure you can find it if you are searching for porn type terms, but in the couse of normal use, I haven’t experienced the random porn pop up.

Now if you are equating the occassional Victoria Secret Ad with porn, then yeah, ok. You will run across that.

 

[Rico_S]

If they are school issued devices or personal devices using the school network to access the Internet, the school can control content, access, and browsing via filters and controls on their network.
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Ours has school-wide wifi, but it can be spotty in areas and students are free to use smart phones off of the school network. I have no idea if the school blocks access to certain sites when using their network, it’s certainly possible. But it doesn’t appear to be a major conern since there is no requirement to use the school’s network.

Do you think that this is inappropriate for high schoolers? 14-18 year olds?

 

[Xantippe]

Others have said something similar…that porn can accidentally be stubmbled upon. Honestly, I just don’t find this to be the case anymore. I will say that many years ago, it was relatively common for some porn ad to pop up while browsing, but with today’s browers…doesn’t happen to me (and I don’t have some filter installed other than standard browser). I spend a lot of time on the web and it never happens. I’m sure you can find it if you are searching for porn type terms, but in the couse of normal use, I haven’t experienced the random porn pop up.

Now if you are equating the occassional Victoria Secret Ad with porn, then yeah, ok. You will run across that.

That’s an interesting point.

I do remember seeing bad pop ups once or twice years ago, but it hasn’t happened for a long time. I do see yucky ads with cleavage/etc. attached to pretty normal website content (some people really need to reconsider their commercial sponsors), but not actual porn.

 

[Rico_S]

The ability to find relevant, quality sources is a real skill that students need to start learning and practicing well before college.

Yes. Others have presented this as well. I not only believe that this is an important to be able to find quality resources, I think it’s important for kids to be familiar with the technology itself–how to use it, its capablities, its limitiation, its pitfalls.

Also–as a side note-- social media may be offputting to us who grew up in a different age ( I pretty much despise it), but it is ablsolutely part of our world now. Marketing, news, personal communication–so much is done through these channels that I think it important that my kids get some experience with it now, while we are here to monitor and guide–as opposed to fearing it, banning it until they are essentially adults. My wife is an educator and constantly complains that so many teachers and administrators fear and avoid technology when they should be embracing it more readily.

 

[Rico_S]

Absolutely- kids need to be taught how to find reliable sources online. No question about it. However, it seems that that is the ONLY way kids are being taught to find information. What happens when the technology isn’t working? When the Internet is down or the computer malfunctioning? These kids, at least the ones in my class, have absolutely no clue how to find information other than on the Internet.

I’m curious, are you suggesting that kids be taught card catalogues, dewey decimal system, etc? How to navigate around a library?

 

[AClaire11]

Others have said something similar…that porn can accidentally be stubmbled upon. Honestly, I just don’t find this to be the case anymore. I will say that many years ago, it was relatively common for some porn ad to pop up while browsing, but with today’s browers…doesn’t happen to me (and I don’t have some filter installed other than standard browser). I spend a lot of time on the web and it never happens. I’m sure you can find it if you are searching for porn type terms, but in the couse of normal use, I haven’t experienced the random porn pop up.

Now if you are equating the occassional Victoria Secret Ad with porn, then yeah, ok. You will run across that.

It depends. I remember my friend accidentally searching for “babes” instead of “babies” when trying to find pictures to use for a middle school project with some bad results.

 

[Lea101]

Ours has school-wide wifi, but it can be spotty in areas and students are free to use smart phones off of the school network. I have no idea if the school blocks access to certain sites when using their network, it’s certainly possible. But it doesn’t appear to be a major conern since there is no requirement to use the school’s network.

Do you think that this is inappropriate for high schoolers? 14-18 year olds?

14-18 year olds seem old enough to have a smartphone. Of course, before you give them one, you have to see if your child is mature enough, tell them about porn, show them studies about it. If they are teenagers, they’ll probably won’t buy the “because god says so” reason, so teaching them the actual scientific effects of porn would be a good idea. Not coming across as judgmental could go a long way too, because a child would be scared to approach you.

You can try limiting the phone usage perhaps. No smartphones in a locked room. If they want to use the internet, be it on the phone or computer, door should be unlocked or open

But yes, back to the point, my school network is pretty useless. Usually we use 4G. I don’t know about you, but my phone service provider or whatever you call it, kind of block porn websites. Gambling ones too I believe. Like they will put a message saying “this is restricted due to adult content. Contact your provider if…”.

This happens for a lot of porn websites. However some people post porn on social media, like a 2 minute clip of a porn movie. It’s pretty much difficult to prevent your child from seeing that so maybe parents should try ensuring the child has a strong stance against porn?

It’s kind of sad when we have to start discussing how to prevent children from seeing stuff like this lol. Long ago, all parents had to do was to not let them go near the ‘adult’ part of the store

 

[Lea101]

It depends. I remember my friend accidentally searching for “babes” instead of “babies” when trying to find pictures to use for a middle school project with some bad results.

I feel bad for laughing.

Similar thing happened to me. I wanted to find a picture of chicken breast to show my mom (like how the dish looked) but being the cool, clever 10 year old me, I googled “chick breast”

 

[Rico_S]

It depends. I remember my friend accidentally searching for “babes” instead of “babies” when trying to find pictures to use for a middle school project with some bad results.

Yes. I just typed it in Chrome and searched. Certainly some bad website links pop up, and the images are racy for sure (I’m sure some would call pornographic). But if my 7th grade daughter were researching, I’m confident that she would be embarrassed and say “oops” and move along. If I had a suspicision that she would try to check out the porn link, she wouldn’t have access to the computer.

Now I know many will say that I am naive. I am not.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

One thing we hear frequently from the schools, principals, teachers and other parents is that a smart phone is the worst thing you can let your kid have. At the same time, those same folks tell us why their kids aren’t like all the other kids and are mature enough to handle the responsibility.

In our kids’ grade school we’ve had several texting incidents per year for about the last decade. There are multiple infractions of the school’s internet policies every year related to porn. The grade school down the road from us lost three teachers last year due to porn/child porn incidents and multiple schools in the area in the last few years have had incidents with teachers sexting students, photographing students with their smart phones, etc.

I believe kids need phones nowadays. However, no kid needs a smart phone.

 

[Rico_S]

. At the same time, those same folks tell us why their kids aren’t like all the other kids and are mature enough to handle the responsibility.
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We should treat all teenagers as devious, sneaky little liars and porn additcts until proven otherwise.

 

[E_7]

Others have said something similar…that porn can accidentally be stubmbled upon. Honestly, I just don’t find this to be the case anymore. I will say that many years ago, it was relatively common for some porn ad to pop up while browsing, but with today’s browers…doesn’t happen to me (and I don’t have some filter installed other than standard browser). I spend a lot of time on the web and it never happens. I’m sure you can find it if you are searching for porn type terms, but in the couse of normal use, I haven’t experienced the random porn pop up.

Now if you are equating the occassional Victoria Secret Ad with porn, then yeah, ok. You will run across that.

Well I’m guessing that the accidental exposure doesn’t happen by pop ups only because ad block plus can take care of that. But I’m guessing that kids could search a term in any search engine that doesn’t have the safe search enforced and search for a specific animal that girls in particular like and coincidentally, there IS a porn website with an animal name as the website address (which I won’t reveal for the sake of the young curious CAF readers), it happened to my cousins.

 

[DarkLight]

We should treat all teenagers as devious, sneaky little liars and porn additcts until proven otherwise.

I feel like this could backfire when said teenagers turn 18.