Isn’t technology fantastic!
I mean it. I’m not being sarcastic. I really am a true fan of all things techie. I am fascinated by the idea that there are opportunities for developers to create ways to make our everyday lives less complicated; to find ways for us to reach out and connect with old friends, new friends and soon-to-be friends…plus all the amazing conveniences like online banking, shopping and access to information that the Internet has brought.
Technology and the Internet are amazing, and I suspect that as it becomes more and more entrenched in our lives, we will start to demand access everywhere we go.
Like…..when we travel - let’s say.
Wi-Fi at 30,000 feet is not a new idea, and is already available on a select number of airlines and popularity will continue to rise. The continuous losses in the travel industry have forced airlines to add services like Internet access to attract more customers, but at what cost to child safety?
Here is a thought….if the guy sitting next to you and your 8 year old on a flight from LA to New York fancies soft porn, and his monitor is stuck on the seat back in full view, how would you feel?
What if the woman next to you is watching a video on YouTube about how to smoke a joint, or shoot heroin…what would you tell your kid?
What if the kid beside you opens an email with large font curse words “F ***K YOU” – would you want your kid repeating what he read?
There are a lot of dangers that the Internet and technology bring but we try to balance the good with the bad. As parents, we probably have Internet filters that help keep inappropriate content from reaching our kids when they log on at home. Libraries, government agencies, schools and even many workplaces have some sort of Internet filter. They are responsible.
But what about the airlines? Is it their duty to be as responsible to your kids? Should they filter content too?
Some say yes, many say no.
Are our constitutional rights to free speech interfering with our right to protect our kids from damaging information?
