Illinois Law Bans Sex Offenders from Social Media
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Last week, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a bill that bans registered sex offenders in Illinois from using what this bill calls a "Social networking website." The definition put forth in the Illinois law seeks to define social networking sites primarily by the ability to host a profile of oneself combined with the electronic messaging--chat, email, writing on "walls," etc.--that accompanies it. But, surprisingly, the bill has been met with a mix of applaud and criticism.
For starters, aside from the very "legalese" attempt at defining social media, the bill does have some potential weaknesses. Critics fear that the bill is too narrow-focused and may lead to a false sense of safety for children online. Others simply wonder how one state's legislation will make any impact on such a broad-reaching medium like the Internet. For example, the bill does not account for predators in Gary, IN befriending Chicago youth. And, there are also those concerned that the alienation of one-time criminals could be unjust--creating a "virtual concentration camp" as Mike Doyle of Chicago Now puts it .
But, let's put this into perspective. The 19th Amendment didn't outlaw sexism in the workplace, spousal abuse, or other forms of gender discrimination. But it was a step in the right direction, no doubt! And, all of the above did follow in due time. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking that this simple bill, one of the first of its kind, will radically change the safety of children online... by itself. But, at the same time, I do applaud Quinn and the Illinois legislation for taking a first step.
To be sure, much revision is needed, and will undoubtedly come. But as other states begin to follow suit, and federal legislation such as the AWARE Act continue to gain the attention of lawmakers, I believe we'll someday look back to this era in history and see landmark legislation. We're taking small steps today to protect our children for generations to come in the ever-increasing internet community. As society changes, so must legislation. The internet has forever changed the society we live in. There is an urgent need, so I will continue to support the legislators who--though maybe behind the eight ball--do have the safety of our nation's children at heart.Labels: AWARE Act, children safety, internet safety, Legislation, predators, Sex Offenders
posted by Nick Carter at 6:24 AM Link to this Article
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Adolescent Web Awareness Requires Education (AWARE) Act
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) are sponsoring the Adolescent Web Awareness Requires Education Act (AWARE Act). This bipartisan legislation would provide funding to programs that educate children on Internet safety, behavior, and security. I couldn't agree more with Congressman Culberson's comments on the underlying premise of the act:
"The way to meet the challenges and opportunities the Internet presents isn't to deny our children access to this great resource but to empower them to use it wisely. Just as we make sure our children know not to talk to strangers, not to bully kids on the playground, and not to provide personal information, we have the same responsibility to teach them to apply these values online." So, what are the details? The bill, if approved, would establish funding for grants made available to state and local education agencies and non-profit organizations. These grants will be competitively awarded for programs that promote Internet safety for children. A proposed $125 million in grants over five years would be administered jointly by the Departments of Justice and of Education.
This means that, instead of barring children from the potential hazards of the Internet, we will encourage education providers to prepare children to interact in the online world safely--just as you would in the offline world. The Internet is a phenomenal tool, but it comes with great dangers, not unlike a bicycle, a car, or an ordinary can of hairspray. Let's teach our kids to use it safely.
To show your support for the AWARE Act, you can learn more at Congresswoman Schultz's and Congressman Culberson's websites:
For information on how you can help your children use the Internet safely today, Download the free software from McGruff SafeGuard, made available for free through a partnership with the NCPC.Labels: AWARE Act, education, internet safety
posted by Nick Carter at 4:59 AM Link to this Article
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