Comments on: Study: Young Kids Online

By: Anna Watkins

Anna Watkins — Sun, 25 May 2008 14:03:30 +0000

I’m continually amazed at the “need” to have 2-year-olds working on developing the “mousing skills.” I didn’t mouse until I was 25 (digital immigrant, here), and that didn’t keep me down for long. My children (10 & 11) get far more Internet at school than at home. As I introduce them to e-mail & web searching at home, I see how vulnerable they are to flashing and “FREE!” The need for media literacy education grows and grows.

By: WebTools For Teachers 05/18/2008 « WebTools For Learners

WebTools For Teachers 05/18/2008 « WebTools For Learners — Sun, 18 May 2008 12:33:10 +0000

[...] Weblogg-ed » Study: Young Kids Online [...]

By: Tensegrities » Blog Archive » Young children’s use of online sites

Sat, 17 May 2008 23:00:59 +0000

[...] ConsumerReports WebWatch just released an interesting study of young children’s use of online sites. It was quite small — only 10 families participated — but used an interesting qualitative methodology that included video journalling. Some key findings here. [...]

By: XaviaH

XaviaH — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:59:09 +0000

Well this is very interesting to me. My little brother who is seven thoroughly enjoys Club Penguin. I had no idea that they asked for you to purchase a membership or have you access other things on the cite. It is nice for kids to be able to play and learn online but it shouldn’t be right for the sites to attempt to manipulate children for the sake of commerce as you said. I find it really annoying in the first place when ads pop up continually when you are online trying to tempt you to buy something that you don’t really need. Like KellyS had said, the sites not only manipulate the kids but also the parents who are the ones who pay for the products that the child asks for. It doesn’t seem fair for the the kids to have to pay or buy something just to have fun and learn.

By: Ethan L

Ethan L — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:01:55 +0000

This is a very important subject to me because the internet can be a very dangerous place especially for young children. If a kid gets on my space and posts a bunch of information about themselves anyone can get to it and use it. It is kind of scary if you think about. I think parents should supervise there kids while they are on the internet or they should put parental guidance on their computer. Another danger is if the kid gets on a bad website and it gives the computer a virus. Those can be dangerous depending on what kind of information you have on your computer because it can possibly be hacked. If I was letting my kid on the computer I would just tell him what sites are ok to go on and what kind of sites are bad and I would block them just in case. Hopefully people can learn from you blog and prevent things like this from happening.

Thanks,
Ethan

By: KellyS

KellyS — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:57:45 +0000

Dear Mr. Richardson,

I found this article to be surprising that already companies are trying to reach out their products to children at such a young age. I actually clicked on the links provided and did notice that you had to purchase a membership to either join the online learning and communicating site, or be able to access certain “abilities” that maybe a certain game had. There are advertisements everywhere, even in the most unexpected areas like these websites that will then connect you to another site that is sponsored by yet another site that just wants you to buy their products. The thing is it is not actually the kids who are paying for these products it is the parents! Last time I checked an eight year old doesn’t have a credit card which is what you usually need to purchase something online. It is total manipulation of the children and the parents, the kids want to be apart of the online community to maybe play the games or chat with other kids, and the parents can’t say no to a “learning” experience.

By: mrsdurff

mrsdurff — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:39:55 +0000

We were just talking about ‘sticky’ websites using the CyberSmartz lesson in 6th grade. Mine are totally addicted to Club Penguin! At least they know it – but 6th graders are a bit older….
Reminds me of the way the stock is displayed in the cereal aisles of your local grocery store.

By: Karen Janowski

Karen Janowski — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:30:37 +0000

I watched the video – “Meet the Children” among other shorter videos.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVcxzxuHwBw&feature=related)

Young minds being easily manipulated through engaging, interactive activities. Potentially more destructive than TV ads.
This is frightening on many levels and points to how we need to educate parents, and not just our students, about digital literacy.

By: Bud Hunt

Bud Hunt — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:53:57 +0000

Isn’t that pretty much what Club Penguin is – “manipulating children for the sake of commerce?”

I see potential – but also lots of Lil’ Capitalist training – in children’s social networks. Makes me sad. But, at the same time, my 3-year-old daughter can walk into a bookstore and point out which books and toys are the “boy” ones and which are the “girl” ones – so the offline world is doing a pretty good job of acculturating our kids, too.