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An Online Driver's License for Kids and Teens

Thanks to my involvement with Symantec's Online Safety Advisory Council (check out their new www.onlinefamily.norton.com product for a cool web safety solution for your family), I occasionally get to listen in as some very smart techies talk shop. One idea that bubbled up last night really caught my eye: Should kids need a certification or driver's license of sorts to go online? Now, it would obviously be very difficult to enforce this in all homes or on all cell phones or the like, but what if we started with just school computers? Before young Billy can use the school machines, he has to have completed the online safety course. Or he has to pass the online safety quiz that pops up before the login process. Something like that. It's akin to my local YMCA where kids under 16 can't use the weights or exercise equipment without going through a safety intro with a Y staffer. I can't break my toe on the web or tear a muscle, but the web risks are every bit as real. Seems like a good start to me. What do you think? 
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#3 Leo Bauer 2014-01-21 20:58
In France there is a program being test implemented for school children as a cooperative between insurance company AXA Prévention and put in place by the Gendarmerie Nationale, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNEK9nYvlR4 This is in the French language.

It might be good to see if AXA Prevention would be interested in collaborating.
#2 Emily Holloway 2013-05-01 05:02
im so exited
#1 B.J. Burke 2009-08-05 15:17
I think this is a very interesting idea. I am the technology support person in a middle school and our students are required to read and sign an "Acceptable Use" policy at the start of each school year. This is a long, boring, legal document that does not speak to the kids. I think it would be great to have them complete an on-line quiz before using school machines to remind them how to keep themselves safe on-line. I think one of the best ways to educate kids about on line safety is to keep reminding them about the dangers.

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