It’s SecondLife, and Illinois congressman, Mark Kirk (up for re-election), held a press conference on Tuesday, in front of a library, where he highlighted the “dangers” of the virtual world…. ((Broache, Anne. “Ban ‘Second Life’ in Schools and Libraries, Republican Congressman Says.” [Weblog NewsBlog] 7 May 2008. C|Net Networks, Inc. 8 May 2008 <http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9937956-7.html>.))
I’m not surprised. History has shown that this kind of fear-mongering can be quite successful in getting elected. SecondLife is certainly no place for kids, and I do not believe that I have encountered a single school that doesn’t block the service — except where there are well moderated instructional programs in place that utilize the MUSE.
But Kirk’s approach is to protect children from danger by further walling up their classrooms, and I just don’t see the logic, especially when children spend most of their online time at home.
Perhaps Linden Labs should do more to assure that kids stay out-world. MySpace recently announced, with Washington State Attorney General, Rob McKenna, that they would institute new procedures and resources to further protect children while working their social networks. Among the actions, MySpace promises…
…to respond within 72 hours to complaints about inappropriate content and commit more staff and/or resources to review and classify photographs and discussion groups.
In the press release, Attorney General McKenna said,
Every day, around 50,000 sex offenders are on the Internet, lurking in chat rooms and on sites where kids and teens congregate.” ((Washington State Office of the Attorney General. (14 Jan 2008). Attorney General McKenna announces nationwide agreement with MySpace to protect kids online (18786). Olympia. http://www.atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=18786.))
Does anybody know where he got those numbers?
I don’t know where he got that particular number, but I recently saw a presentation by a woman form the US Attorney General’s office, and she was definitely out to scare. Their materials start in with the classic “1 in 5 students are solicited for sex on the Internet each year” statistic. This statistic arises from a single 1999 study that surveyed 1,501 kids aged 10-17. Somehow it’s been repeated often enough over the last ten years to be accepted as cannon… a fact, or some sort of law of the Internet. The best we can do is raise awareness about such scare tactics and about the benefits of the tools we advocate.
It’s interesting, the contrast between this story, and watching Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners in the UK, delivering his keynote address to educators from Second Life. On the one hand, you have a government official who is tempting people with opportunities, and on the other, a politician who is tempting you by trying to make you afraid of the very same thing.
It’s such a strange — and still primitive world.
David,
Being an Illinois resident, I thought I would take the opportunity to email Mark Kirk and give him my views about this issue.
His site requires a zip code for anyone trying to send a message. I do not live in his district, so I was unable to follow through the easy way – it was frustrating and disappointing. I understand, in a way, but shouldn’t he be listening to all Illinois residents?
Now I’m wondering how much influence my representative can wield on this issue.