Better content creates better outcomes for kids online

Before you let your child run freely in your neighborhood playground for the first time, you’ve probably already taught them to stay in your sight at all times. Along with lessons about playing well with others, sharing, and not talking to strangers, you’ve probably also navigated the landscape with them before, teaching them how to play safely within that environment. Chances are, the next playground your child encounters will be a digital one, and as a parent you’ll be left to decide how the age-old rules translate to new apps, social media and games. This playground may not be anything you experienced growing up, but that doesn’t mean that safeguards aren’t in place or that activity should be inhibited.  

The playground is different today, so are the ways our kids interact, communicate, and learn, and it is imperative that the technology and content driving this change is held to the highest standard. The most important lessons taught on the real-world playground are still relevant to the digital world.  We must also allow our kids to explore, engage, socialize, make mistakes, and develop by going through the great variety of experiences that digital technologies have to offer.

{mosads}When it comes to the Internet, we as parents, want to see new, better, and safer spaces for kids, and to ensure that there are policies and regulations in place that foster these spaces. When we look at online platforms, we want to encourage companies and individuals to develop engaging content and experiences for our kids that continue to push innovative boundaries. We also want to support environments where kids can be creators, collaborators and educators in their own right, learning first-hand the importance of free expression and building skills that will help them take advantage of the benefits of the digital world and excel in life.

Developers big and small are creating imaginative online experiences for kids, and many are designed with kids’ privacy and safety first in mind. For example, Amazon recently released the Fire HD Kids Edition, a tablet made for kids with parental controls and a curated selection of child-friendly apps, videos, games and books. For older kids, we are seeing app developers create tools and experiences to improve learning. The online learning resource Quizlet is another example of developers working to find a way to help millions of kids study and brings old-fashioned flash cards online. We want to see even more growth in the creation of apps, social networks, and online experiences for kids.

These services have found new ways to promote engaging and safe experiences for kids online, staying within the confines laid out by the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. COPPA is designed to ensure that parents are aware of and involved in decisions about who collects their young children’s personal information. But it also creates a compliance burden that can sometimes discourage small companies and solo creators from attempting to create services aimed at kids. The best regulatory frameworks should focus on safeguarding children without overly burdening developers and should encourage the growth of sites and services for kids.

Governments can promote educational efforts, convene hackathons, and support research to help the development of positive online content for kids. Regardless of the regulatory framework, and even as companies develop safer spaces and experiences for kids, we still need to start the conversations that will prepare them for experiences outside of the safe space. We also must accept the fact that kids won’t be content to stay in the walled gardens that exist online. Today’s digitally savvy youth know how to navigate around filters, access information outside of “kid zones,” and hide their actions from their parents.

This makes it crucial for parents to play an active role by providing guidance on privacy, security, and safety to their children. Many organizations have developed useful tools for parents, schools, and kids, including those found on the website of the Family Online Safety Institute and StaySafeOnline.org. Many of these organizations also work directly with companies to help them develop safety practices for a responsible approach to the creation of websites and services for kids. 

We are excited about the opportunities that technology is bringing for our children to lead informed, creative, and collaborative lives. Parents will always play a crucial role in helping their sons and daughters navigate the complex world, yet we should not be fearful just because the world is more connected. We should work to embrace more creative content, encourage more companies to work in this space, and empower our kids to smartly navigate the rich networks at their fingertips.

Balkam is CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute.  O’Connor is president & CEO of the Center for Democracy & Technology.