Internet Stealing Kids' Innocence

www.foxnews.com ^

[Mind Freed]

David Schwimmer’s directorial effort “Trust,” starring Clive Owen, offers a disturbing look at an Internet sexual predator who slowly, unnervingly seeks out his prey – a typical, well-adjusted and athletic 15-year-old girl who he befriends in a cyber chat room.

Despite an array of warning signs, Annie is still drawn to her “connection” with Charlie, a self-proclaimed grad student. Their real-life encounter subsequently turns into tragedy when she is raped by who turns out to be a 35-year-old man.

Just how significant of a role does the Internet and social networking play in robbing today’s young generation of their innocence?

[Mind Freed]

I don't know where these two stand politically and I probably don't want to know. But I think it is pretty cool that they are using their platform to address an important issue like this.

[MeganC]

The best thing my mom did for me was not to let me have a computer until I was 18.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Parental accountability is definitely needed, but nevertheless, parents aren’t omniscient.

[Lysandru]

David Schwimmer was on Laura Ingraham’s radio show yesterday talking about this film. It was a good interview.

[momtothree]

“... platform to address an important issue like this”

I agree. I see quite the trend to sexualize children and present pedophilia as simply an “option” to society. Parents have to know that their children are at risk... whether it is at the park, the grocery store, online etc... Sad but it is the way it is.

[Joe 6-pack]

Probably 15 years ago, there was an X-Files episode titled “2Shy”. While it had its typical X-Files sci-fi/paranormal aspects, the over-riding theme was that online dating has its inherent hazards.

[bigbob]

I’m no prude and while it may not be a popular opinion here, don’t really have a big problem with adults having access to porn. But it’s the ease with which kids can get to stuff that’s the problem. There are no safeguards that are anywhere near effective, and kids are going to find a way to lie, use a friends computer, etc. Not to underestimate the really heinous acts like rape and kidnapping that occur, but the whole “loss of innocence” thing is saddening, when you see how those kids are failing, and will continue to fail in society. It’s the bullying, the crudeness in all forms of expression, the “facebook depression” and whole culture of exhibitionism via the internet, “sexting”, teachers having sex with underage students, STDs, and mental disorders.

We need this generation to build the future, and we’re doing a damned lousy job of preparing them for it. Maybe this kind of presentation will help turn the tide.

[databoss]

Schwimmer is an glad obamabot

[RJS1950]

The internet is an inanimate collection of servers. Parents who do not control access for their kids are responsible. The same applies to TV, music, clothing etc.

[Chickensoup]

Ok big guy, come on down and control access to the web for my kids.

Help me install the technology to do it.

I school my kids online. So come on down and restrict access only to positive sites.

and do it affordably.

I hate glibness.

[Republic_of_Secession.]

The television was stealing it long before the rise & age of the computer.

[Republic_of_Secession.]

The television was stealing it long before the rise & age of the computer.

[Las Vegas Ron]

You can set filters in your browser, for free.

[mountainlion]

Sounds like a liberal conspiracy theory to shut down the Internet.

[Lees Swrd]

Yep and here are some browsers that they can use for their kids.

http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/misctools/fwparents.html

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/pfilter.html

[ClearCase_guy]

Schwimmer made a movie a few years ago about the Jews of Warsaw rising up and fighting the Nazis. He was also in Band of Brothers (his character was not likable, but that is irrelevant).

My guess is that his politics are not perfect, but that he is not as bad as many in the business.

[cameraman]

I tend to agree with you on this one. I am a tech and I know how to secure a connection. But my kids are...well... kids. They will probably go to their friends' houses that don't have secure connections, or to the library, or use their friends hand held devices, or use a proxy that I don't know of etc.

My wife and I parent as much as we should, but too much and you are a helicopter parent or too little and your are not living up to your expected role. These are just some of the new issues that parents didn't have to deal with not so long ago.

[I Buried My Guns]

"... He was also in Band of Brothers ..."

He was awesome in that role. Quite a departure from "Ross". I hated him and did not want to be his "Friend".

[silverleaf]

HERE HERE!!!!!

Same here!

[discostu]

The path to protecting a kid’s innocence isn’t in block what they CAN access, it’s blocking what the WANT to access. There always has been and will be stuff out there that’s not kid safe if they’re willing to put the effort into finding it. But if they know better, then they know better.