Making the Internet Safe for Families
Rebecca Prewett
Important Note on the following article: Boy, have things changed. Consider this article a relic of a different time. Now I long for those days. My advice now: monitor internet use carefully. Investigate various filtering options. Read up-to-date stuff. Protect your family. There's still a lot of good stuff out there, but there is also stuff that is, quite frankly, vile and toxic.
And, now...for a nostalgic trip down memory lane...
"What? You have Internet access? Aren't you concerned about all the porn out there?""The government needs to step in and put a stop to all that stuff."
"Somebody needs to do something so that we don't have to worry about our kids running across something horrible on the Web."
"I support the Decency Act--only liberal commies wouldn't support it!"
Probably many of us have heard similar comments which have left many of us wondering what, if anything, should be done about the smut on the Internet?
I have spent countless hours (ask my family) exploring the Internet. In addition, I have been an active member of one of the major online services for over three years. Contrary to the frightening picture painted by alarmists, I have not been assaulted by pornography or by obscene online encounters. By exercising discernment and common sense, I have avoided that--just as I avoid the rampant pornography easily available in bookstores, libraries, video stores, phone sex services, etc.
Cries for government censorship of the Internet are misguided and may--if put into action--come back to haunt us. We may lose free access to information available on networks outside of the U.S., as well as on U.S. computer servers because of fear of government intrusion or criminal liability should they be used to transmit pornography. And--mark my words--just as RICO has been used to silence pro-lifers, so eventually will vaguely worded "Decency Acts" be used to silence outspoken Christians on the Internet and online services. (Already some attorneys have warned that the CDA, as worded currently, will "ban" graphic discussion online of breast cancer and possibly even breastfeeding.)
Further, attempts at controlling pornography on the Internet would be exercises in futility. The Internet is comprised of too many computers for the government to be able to eradicate smut on all of them. Indeed, pornographers could simply peddle their wares via email--and do we really want the government snooping on private correspondence?
Christians who are concerned about online porn should do the following:
- Become educated about the Internet, rather than falling prey to sensationalist myths and rumors (either "The Internet is the devil's playground" or "The Internet is the best thing to happen to mankind")
- Program (and/or fund) software solutions that would allow parents to block access to any areas they would deem offensive. These solutions need not be expensive and could even be freely distributed as freeware or shareware. (And, as for the idea that "advocating restricting behavior" is "bad philosophy", I already restrict my behavior in an attempt to live a holy life. I strongly advocate that all Christians do so--the presence or absence of pornography does not change that.)
- Create a strong presence--on online services, on USENET, on the WWW, etc.--that will not only shed light in the darkness but use this technology to the glory of God. There is already much out there of value to Christians; there could be much more.
- Refuse to empower the government to take on yet another parental and messianic role.
The answer to the question who should police the Internet is simple. God will hold my husband and me responsible for what we allow in our home. I don't want to pass the buck to the government; I don't trust their policing anyway.
A final note: I recently read an interesting editorial that made that point that we should be far more concerned about the sins depicted in pornography than by those committed by the pornographers. In other words, a Biblical worldview would require us to legislate against fornication, adultery, etc. and thus to seek the prosecution of fornicators--whether they posed for cameras or not. Much pornography would then serve as incriminating evidence.
copyright 1996 by Rebecca Prewett
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