According to CBS, YouTube has responded to parental complaints about violent and sexual content by introducing Safety Mode.’ The article quotes Marsali Hancock, parent and president of ikeepsafe.org.
After I stopped being ticked, the next thing that struck me was: Why is Hancock’s daughter on YouTube 2-to-5 hours a day?
We face the same issue in libraries, teachers face it in the schools–some parents don’t want to take responsibility for raising their own kids, spending time talking about issues, their own particular family’s ethical values, etc.’ Or maybe they just don’t know how.
If you grow up in a major urban area, and pass by a lot of negative images on the street everyday between home and school– is the answer to provide police escorts and blinders? (Speaking as an old Bronx kid here, I’ve’ seen some stuff…)
So now it’s YouTube– every generation has its snares and challenges, learning curves and dangers.
These blocks are ridiculous non-solutions. I think they allow some parents and administrators to crawl back into the illusion of safety and believe that they have actually done something meaningful.
Parents need help and support on the value of talking, guiding, and at least setting reasonable limits on sedentary activity, if nothing else.
Adding blocks just avoids the real issue.
Anne Leon
YALSA-IFC
