Kids Online. Safety?

Hi Guys,
I know this has nothing to do with programing, but because you guys have a little more brains than have the internet, Im asking you for help. My nephew who is 10, like having his own website. I created him one for him from scratch. But he also like the community idea. He was on myspace.com and created a free account there. Lets just say in a nice way, his mother exploded. She turns to me for help. He lied about age etc. Does anybody have an Idea were kids can get on a 'community like' site. He didn't care for msn. I am looking for a safe place were kids can have cool backgrounds, upload movies or music. A place that is cool, but safe. I know you guys have been around the internet for quite sometime. Does anybody have suggetions on this. Thank you
David

There is no place that is ultimately safe on the internet. Anyone can pretend to be a kid and pose a threat to any child. The best thing you can do is sit with the child and be involved in what they do on the internet.

That's an interesting question.

I would have thought not - if there was a safe place for children, then other people would be attracted there.

With the internet, if they cannot keep childeren from adult sites, then this may be a difficult one to do in reverse.

I highly doubt anything can be done to protect the internet. Kids are smart, and will prolly know how to bypass things.

*If* a kid wants to visit an adult site, then what does it mean? It means the kid developed a certain curiosity about 'the subject', it's prolly all natural orso. Otherwise the kid won't visit such sites, having other things to search for.. brickfest, walt disney, cartoon network, idols, etc.

Another thing often heard in the media are actionmovies, and kids watching them who'll copycat the stuff they see. Well, I dunno. That's something you should blame parents for, not to forbid a movie, but to explain the diff between reality and fiction.

Iirc I was about 9..10 orso when I first watched Alien. Today the movie is still creepy, back then it was terror (you know, aliens are everywhere, under da bed, in the toilet, etc. everywhere), yet I got proper instructions like 'this and that is all fake, tomatosauce' etc. etc.

Well I wasnt really in the line of 100% safe, but anything other than watching teenagers flash their ***'s on screen. I do believe its possible for adults to get on kids sights. But wasnt so much nervous about that. He smarter than that to answer them. But he is more angry at me for blocking his computer from acessing myspace.com . He loves graphics, and all kind of cool things to do. Hes going to be one of us I think. He very much into tech stuff. I was just hoping, there is a comunity of some kind (that is cool) that we dont have to worry TOO much like myspace.

Hi there, Trooper. Here are some sites to have a look at

http://www.google.com/Top/Kids_and_Teens/People_and_Society/Online_Communities/

..I think kids should play together in live, not over web sites...somehow its too cruel for me to imagine kid whos spending time on web rather than playing with other kids outside in nice sunny day..screw that web site and push kid out man..

My kids really like bebo.com, but they are there mainly because their friends are there already.

In regards to exploding mothers, such incidents usually turn out to be a good opportunity for family discussions about etiquette, staying safe etc. Schools in New Zealand all now seem to have a a good page of rules the kids have to sign before they are allowed near the computers and it is pretty common sense to set similar rules at home.

www.habbohotel.com

but no where is safe on the internet... the best way to keep a kid safe, is to teach them what isn't safe.

You have to trust your kid to be smart and not do stupid things like give out their name, address, or other personal info online.

The internet can't be made safe, because it is the kid who isn't being safe, always.

really.. I wouldn't block his access, I would teach him how to surf the net responsible-like....

Part of that is teaching him what porn is, why it is easy to find, and why he shouldn't look at it. Namely, it is something he shouldn't worry about now.

But, you aren't his dad, that is his dad's job.

I'm very black and white on this. Either he learns proper net usage and safety, or he doesn't use the internet at all.

The internet is like a gun... When used in a range, with people around and a knowledge of gun safety or out hunting in a safe way. It is fine. Anything else is not fine.

Treat the internet exactly like a gun. A gun with animal sex and decapitation videos.

I mean... really... No one should have the internet if they aren't trustworthy... Kids or Adults.

I think all of the comments form you guys are right. Without a doubt. But the problem isnt so much him. When he logged on to that site, he could of said anything in his profile. But he didnt mention where he lives etc. He shocked everybody about his profile. The only thing he lied about was his age (just to get in site). The only thing that bothers us was, he doesnt know WHERE to go. Some of his friends were on that one site. Thats the only reason he went. His hockey team friends are their too. And the one thing they ALL did, was lie about their age to get on. He is a very smart kid. He just lost at to what is popular, but for kids his age. How to be cool and safe, at the same time is hard for him. We were at msn community and he had his own webpage about hockey and video games, but after 3 months, still no other kids were on. Msn, was the 'out' thing. But anyway, I'll keep searching for that cool but somewhat safe community for kids his own age (10-11). Thanks

and by the way, your right about having his dad talk to him. The only differnce is, his dad is the other half of dumb people online. My sister came to me 1, because i do programing, internet etc, and 2, Im a cop. So I feel its somewhat my duty to help the ruggrat. I currently am working with a kid/chat site online with the moderators. They know Im a cop and their happy im there. I had only one person to chase down. I believe he was an adult, and was after him, but got away and removed his profile. But the site 'clubpenguin' doesnt have a community for them. Its just a chat and uses penguin charecters to interact with each other. My nephew goes their, but also wants a website/community atmosphere.

Cool != Safe... ever.

being cool requires taking risks.


but, Like I said. Habbohotel is designed for kids and kids use it.

It is also a popularity fountain and there are 13 yearolds having wild cybersex in the lobby.

There is no where interesting online that is going to not have that. When I was 13 all the kids chats were full of people talking about porn and sex and things. It is the same today.

If all that bugs you is that he had to lie I'm not sure there is a place for you... even that habbohotel site requires kids to be over 13.

well.... there is one place...

www.deviantart.com allows young members, and while an adult can see things labeled as 'adult content' kids can not. It is somewhat up to the users what adult it, but in general they get it right.. it is more conservative than pretty much any art gallery.

If he does artistic things, it'll be great for him.. and he can do pretty much anything that was done on myspace, only this doesn't look like crap.

The other option... have him try to learn how to make his own myspace for kids... or for his own friends.

It isn't very hard at all, myspace was created by idiots.

myspace was created by idiots (LOL) Im sure your right. If I ever started a program etc, I would definetly have it monitored. I think the people who started myspace either left or they are sleeping somewhere. If you did a simple search for somebody there, you have more teens swearing or naked or both. I cant even see how myspace doesnt see that. I went out of my way to try and avoid it, but their was always some teen being stupid. But thanks Im going to give that www.deviantart.com a shot. Thank you DampeS8N

No problem.

If I was kid when the internet became popular, I would be downloading porn non-stop. I would become the worlds greatest cyber hacker to get it too. Luckily I think I turned out mostly normal.

I think the problem is not the kid who want to visit adult content, but the adults who spam the kids with adult content. It takes only one click. MSIE rootkit autostarting viagra popup windows and things, ugly stuff.

As Game Boy said, take the time and consume the web together with your kids whenever possible. Know what they do and with who they communicate. And keep their machines clean from trojans.

Deviant art is great, + you dont get stupid immature people. Its just full of people who love art.

PAental supervision. Can't beat it.

I agree, thats what we've been doing, how else would I come here and start this topic if I wasn't aware. My real question I guess was, "Does anybody know of any great community website?" But you guys are right about the kids being watched over. Now I wonder where those parents are on myspace? And why they havn't met you guys? I should sick you guys on them LOL. Good job again

Myspace should be shut down... preferably by those who own it... Before it becomes the scapegoat-reason for doing something drastic.... like passing crazy bills. Oh.. wait.

whenever I think 'myspace.com' i think 'the ghetto of the internet'

quick google search brought this up:
http://www.ability.org.uk/kids_and_teens_online_communitie.htm

might give you some more areas to search around.

Hey, just curious, can he join a place like this? If I trust him with anybody, it you guys. He's 10. And very smart. Im trying to get him to start Blitz. When I signed up, it asked for my cd code to register. Do I have to buy him his own Cd for this?