Welcome FlowerChild

55 million euro will be invested by the EU to make the Internet safer for children. How? The EU will use the money to create software to avoid online harassment and abuse of children’s innocence. Also parents and teachers will be informed about the risks of Internet and what they can do to prevent problem.

More than 70 % of children between 6 and 17 in Europe go online and 50% of the teenagers owns a mobile phone. 54% of the parents are worried because their children are bullied online or by SMS.

Net geners. This is a term used in the newest book “Grown up Digital” of Don Tapscott. Tapscott interviewed 8.000 people in 12 countries born between 1978 and 1994. The results of this research draw a portrait of the next generation that is very promising and positive. Just some statements from his book:

1.    Net geners are smarter, quicker and more tolerant

2.    They care strongly about justice and are actively trying to improve society

3.    They value freedom and choice in everything they do

4.    They love to customize and personalize

5.    They demand integrity and openness

6.    They want entertainment and play in their work and education

7.    They love to collaborate

8.    They expect constant innovation

9.    Facebook is their equivalent of the old-fashioned rolodex

10.  They are very positive about their family

The only dangers are the inadequacy of the education system and the lack of awareness for personal privacy. 

McSex

Yesterday I saw an interview on TV with a young beautiful journalist, Mirthe Hilkens, who published a book with the title Mcsex about the pornofication of our society. I was really impressed by the ease and selfconfidence she explained her cause. She is criticized and threatened even because apparently a lot of men feel that she will succeed in banning pornographic films and clips on TV before midnight. I agree with her that in videoclips, posters, on the Internet there is an abundance of images that give young people a false vision on love and sex. The sex industry, glossies, music artists and many more commercial initiatives prevent the next generation from discovering in a respectful way their own sexuality and that of others. I think and hope we will hear a lot more about Mirthe Hilkens. 

By accident my daughters Faye-Linn (6) and Bijou (5) discovered yesterday that YouTube can be really fun. They have seen me search on google and did the same typing in ‘Barbie’. And indeed they found some nice video’s with Barbie clips and films. All innocent. Their computer is in my office, so I can monitor quite well what they do. Tonight I decided to search for Barbie on Youtube myself, just as a test. And yes! Video’s with titles as ‘Barbie Slut’ pop up quite easily. No more online video fun unfortunately for these little explorers. The kids browser has been installed!

Interesting campaign to make children aware of the dangers of Internet.