NCJ Number
190174
Date Published
January 2001
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes proceedings from a workshop composed of
researchers, educators, policymakers, and other key stakeholders, who met to consider and discuss nontechnical strategies for reducing children's exposure to inappropriate material on the
Internet.
Abstract
The workshop was organized around four topics: developmental
considerations for defining inappropriate material and the
effects of exposure to sexually explicit and other harmful
materials; children's use patterns and experiences on the
Internet; innovative approaches and existing efforts to use
nontechnological strategies; and opportunities to bridge
research, policy, and practice. In summarizing workshop
proceedings, this report offers insight from the presenters on
the strengths of nontechnical strategies, but it does not contain
conclusions or recommendations; rather, it suggests that the
approach or combination of approaches that best serve young
people must be based on the context, needs, and manner in which
they are using the Internet. In addition, this report is a
distillation of the presentations of the speakers and the dialog
that ensued, highlighting key issues and viewpoints that emerged
from the discussions that occurred. One chapter discusses key
contextual issues and challenges that policymakers, local
administrators (e.g., school principals and superintendents), and
parents face in choosing an approach for reducing children's
exposure to inappropriate online content. Another chapter reviews
three areas of research that provide a scientific basis for
developing age-appropriate, nontechnical strategies as well as a
guide for adults in selecting an approach that matches the
maturity, Internet use patterns, and needs of the youth they
supervise. This research includes information on children's
cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development; research on
what is known about the impact of the media on youth; and recent
empirical studies of children's media use. A third chapter
presents a variety of nontechnical strategies, describing these
approaches and how communities might use them. This is followed
by a chapter that summarizes workshop participants' ideas for how
to improve and connect future research, policy, and practice. The
final chapter summarizes key points and areas emphasized by
workshop participants. 81 references and appended workshop
materials
Date Published: January 1, 2001