Internet Filter Research Paper

In conclusion, web filters should not exist because they prevent students from getting good research for school. Some people say that web filters should be used in schools and others say that web filters should not be used in schools. What side are you on? You

controversial yes so simple. To many they are too restrictive while to others they are not

When discussing internet censorship, one of the major concerns is what children can see on the internet. Internet censorship was a huge deal during the 1990’s and early 2000’s and it still is to this very day. The internet back then was much different than it is today. Back then, we could only access the internet from a computer and most people didn’t own one back then. Nowadays, most people have multiple computers and a cell phone that can access the internet. It was easier for parents to control what their children could have access to back then. Now, parents can still put restrictions on the router settings and set a timer for when the internet shuts off but kids can always just go somewhere else that may have internet access to view any

This paper addresses whether we should censor or block access to websites with controversial material. It looks at the issue from several sides: The relevant US laws that are in place, how censorship is used at the university and corporate levels, how other countries are attempting censorship, and finally what I feel about the topic.

While elementary and middle schools have obvious needs for restrictions, Internet access at the high school level isn't as black and white. High school students are sensitive to their given rights, yet are officially minors under the law; teenagers are ever nearing adulthood, but are sometimes viewed as immature. So, high school administrators are challenged with designing an Internet policy that meets the educational needs of the students and the moral demands of society. Although software is being designed to "censor" the content of the Internet, student trust and responsibility might be a more reasonable route.

The top three filters that are used ar Url-based, keyword-based, and finally blacklist-based. Out of the schools asked the schools said 70% use Url-based filters. This is because the filter goes more in-depth and doesn’t take away from the students learning experience. Url-based is where the filter will search for educational sites and filter out the ones that are not educational. After a list of bad sites has been generated the filter will then block those site from minors accessing them will connected to the schools internet. The second filter type, which is keyword-based, is used in 60% of the schools asked. Keyword-based could be good because the filter reads the whole site and if there are any words that have been blacklisted in the filters software then the filter will block the whole site from minors access. So let's say the website the student was trying to access had a the word, “Pornography” on it the filter would ban the website from viewing. Third, Blacklists, Blacklists have a set list of websites that have been put together by the government that they think the information on the site is harmful to minors and should be blocked from access. When schools were asked if their online content was filtered 98% said content is filtered at school. The question is though to what extent. 94% said they use filtering software such as the

While at school, has there ever been a great idea for a project or an assignment by a student and they can not wait to start on it at school before they lose their idea? Unlucky for them, their school has web filters set up which inhibit them from finding any quality information on the internet other than the basic, generic sites every other kid gets offered. This issue presents a common occurrence in schools across America and it needs to receive termination all together. The use of the internet persists as a freedom given to almost all Americans, but schools limit student’s first amendment rights by carrying out the use of web filters.

Naguera discussed on CNN that censoring information from the internet is a “slippery slope” and can cause problems with a student’s First Amendment rights. Above all, the First Amendment which states, “Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.” Just this one statement from the First Amendment brings up the debate of how much of a student’s rights are taken away from them by censoring their access the internet on school grounds? Furthermore, there is fear that filtering the internet in high schools can cause problems between the schools and students as stated in the article Internet Censorship Pros and Cons List, which was posted on the website

You have a project due, but many of the websites you need for your research are blocked by your school’s filters. Many students have this problem when searching the web, which is why school web filters used to block inferior websites from students are too restrictive, and should be revised or removed.

In 2013, President Obama made it his goal to connect 99% of schools to broadband internet in 5 years. This effort, however, is useless if students can’t actually use the internet to effectively research and study for school purposes. Many schools across the nation rely on webfilter companies to block “inappropriate” websites for them. These web filters are unnecessary. Schools should have unblocked internet and refrain from using filters because they don’t fulfill their job, they are easy to go around, and they are very stressful.

“Access Denied” - the same constant screen continues to pop up on a laptop for hours and hours as one rushes to finish a project that is due the next day. Since the topic they are researching is so-called “sensitive,” most of the information is blocked. However, there is no other choice. These problems, which many students have, are due to blocks put on computers, otherwise known as web filters. Web filters are systems where websites that are deemed “inappropriate” or “offensive” are restricted. Web filters are not efficient because they prevent students from getting information they need, as mentioned in the example above. Additionally, web filters are highly overpriced and can cost districts thousands of dollars. On the other hand, proponents

1. Almost every person I know requires a different approach. I know to avoid or change the wording of some topics around certain individuals because their response to it may be either indifferent or negative.

Congress made an attempt to place content-based restrictions on school and public library internet use in the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) of 2000. This act requires the use of some type of internet filtering software for all public libraries that attain funds from the Federal government (in the form of E-rate discounts or Library Services and Technology Act grants). Should a library refuse to comply with CIPA guidelines, that library would have to maintain its technological services without the government discount or LSTA grants. Holding to the CIPA guidelines, both the E-rate and LSTA stipulate that filters may be disabled or ‘legitimate’ sites unblocked by adults who request it, but it is unclear “whether libraries ‘must’ provide for such disabling” (Anten 79).

Web filter at school too bias. The software schools use allows you to enter some sites but other sites with the same information are blocked. For example if you were writing a essay on Tupac websites with information

Teachers need to incorporate the use of firewalls, filtering software and AUP’s into the classroom to practice ethical use of technology in the classroom. Firewalls will protect the classroom and home computers from unwanted viruses. The firewall detects when a virus is being introduced to the network and will take measures to keep the virus from infecting a computer. Filtering software is important because it will not allow students to view unwanted material or websites (Shelly, G, Gunter, G, and Gunter, R 2012). Teachers