The internet offers immense possibilities to learn, create, and connect. However, it also enables access to questionable content. As technology experts, we have an opportunity and responsibility to make the online world safer and more enriching for all.
Balancing Open Access with Safeguards
Many appreciate the internet‘s openness, which allows people to access information and express themselves freely. However, completely unfiltered access also carries risks, especially for children. Tech companies now offer various safeguards, like SafeSearch, to balance open access with protection from clearly harmful content.
As a digital technology professional, I believe our role is to promote responsible open access – keeping the internet‘s wealth of information available while appropriately filtering clearly illegal and abusive content. Completely disabling protective measures risks exposing users to psychological, emotional or legal harm.
Promoting Digital Literacy and Wisdom
Rather than simply removing safeguards, a better approach is equipping users, especially youth, with the skills and wisdom to responsibly navigate the digital landscape.
-
We can advocate for digital literacy education that teaches critical thinking, ethical discernment, and safety protocols when encountering questionable online content.
-
We can also develop and voluntarily use tools that discourage harassment and abuse by alerting users to the human impact of their online actions.
-
Broadly, we can promote a culture of ethical digital citizenship rooted in compassion and respect for human dignity.
Positive social norms and accountability have a powerful influence. If most users learn to employ technology conscientiously, avoiding abusive behaviors, that constructive example rubs off on others.
Preserving Safe Spaces with Appropriate Control
For parents and other caregivers, some control over access remains prudent, especially for very young internet users. Platforms provide various family safety tools allowing customized filtering by age group. When accountability to a child‘s interests is in view, directly disabling protective measures seems questionable.
However, heavy-handed control risks backfiring as youth get older. It may undermine developing self-regulation and push curious teenagers to find ways around restrictions. Reasonable, nuanced house rules hashed out through open conversation often work better to align values and priorities.
In public spaces like schools and libraries used by minors, retaining firewalls and filters calibrated to block clearly inappropriate content remains sensible. Disabling these broadly would fail in the duty of care.
Working Towards Responsible Openness
In the end, aiming for "safe openness" presents the best way forward – preserving the amazing connectivity the internet provides while proactively addressing its pitfalls and risks. Pursuing online child safety through societal conversation and positive norms, user empowerment, appropriate oversight and smart tools has much more promise than simply removing existing guardrails.
What other perspectives could help build a digitally-powered world that is ethical, uplifting and inclusive? I welcome your thoughts.
