Internet Access Should Be Restricted to Protect Children We are entering a computer age where people have almost unlimited access to information. There are entire books and encyclopedias that can be purchased for use on personal computers. Information such as stock prices, computer-aided design programs, and entire business operations are used and accessed through the power of the computer. This information is obtained through thousands of computer programs on the market, but more importantly, it is obtained by accessing what is called the "Internet". The Internet is the term for the more than ten thousand interconnected computer networks around the world that allow us to collect and distribute any type of information almost instantaneously. For its 1.5 million computers and more than 10 million users, the Internet gathers information easily and quickly through messages, newsgroups, discussion groups, and conferences (rmuir, '94). Anyone who owns a computer and has the necessary software and hardware can have access to this infinite amount of information. Among these, of course, children can be included. Right now, children as young as age seven are speeding along the "information highway," accessing an almost unlimited amount of information. In fact, there are already schools on the Internet with their own World Wide Web home pages. Unfortunately, some of this information is not suitable for children and may also be intended for adults. Just as inappropriate material in books and magazines is regulated, there should also be some form of Internet regulation and ethics for secondary school children to have access to any information, including questionable ones and even… document…. ..p://www.eff.org:80/CAF/[email protected] For your information, RFC#1578 -Schools and Internet, 22 February 1994, http://chs.cusd.claremont.edu:80/www/people/rmuir/rfc1578.htmlAbrahams, Janice. Janice's k12 Cyberspace OUTPOSTOST. October 1, 1994. http://k12.cnidr.org/janice_k12/schools.html, http://k12.cnidr.org/janice_k12/menu.htmlThe Family Resource Center in Santa Clara, California, Parents Helping Parents. October 25, 1994, http://www.portal.com:80/~cbntmkr/php.htmlGore, Albert. Speech at Royce Hall, UCLA Los Angeles, CA. January 11, 1994. http://sunsite.unc.edu:80/icky/speech2.htmlMorrison, Michael. Computer Writing and Research Center. University of Texas at Austin. Personal interview. December 3, 1994. Hoker, Delia. Computer Writing and Research Center. University of Texas at Austin. Personal interview. December 3,1994.