Parents Should Keep an Eye on podcastsThis New Way of Distributing Audio Files Via the Internet Could Expose Children to Questionable Material.
Posted on: Monday, 19 September 2005, 21:00 CDT
Just like Web sites, podcasts aren't regulated. So it's possible for today's technology-savvy children -- who often know more about computers than their parents -- to listen to or subscribe to a sexually explicit or hate-based talk show.
Several podcast directory Web sites regularly report adult- oriented shows among the most popular.
While some sites flag podcasts with explicit content, it's possible for kids to hear curse words or erotica with just one click.
Podcasts are so new that i-SAFE, a nonprofit Internet safety foundation, is still researching how to address them in training police, educators and parents, said Kevin Storr, the foundation's communications director.
In the meantime, parents can use general Internet safety guidelines to wade through the dangers, he said.
"The biggest thing is to be a part of their online lives," Storr said. "Parenting is the same whether it's online or offline. Know who their friends are online. Make it a family experience. Keep the computer in an open area. The worst thing you can do is put the computer in the bedroom."
Parents don't need to hover every second, but keeping a computer in an open area allows them to keep an eye on their child, he said. It's also important for a parent to be accessible in case a child stumbles upon something questionable.
Storr's group advises against computer software that monitors kids' online activities. Instead, he said, it advocates education and open discussions.
If a child stumbles upon questionable material, don't sugarcoat it.
"You just explain to them, 'The Internet is much like the real world -- there are good and bad people,'" he said. "You want to be there to explain. It's hard for minors to discern what is right and what is wrong out there."
For more information, visit www.isafe.org.
Source: Omaha World - Herald
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