The article, All or Nothing: Hardly the Facts, discusses the lawsuit of Sarah Bradburn et al. v. North Central Regional Library District. “The suit alleges that the library violated the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by refusing to disable Internet filters at the request of adult patrons.”(Oliver, Pinnell-Stephens, Jones, 2011)
This article made me think about my stance on internet filtering. I am somewhat torn about filtered internet. On one hand, I am all about not filtering, because I want people to be able to have access to everything that they want, regardless if I feel it may or may not be a moral topic. I can see the other side of the argument as well when it comes to children. Children under 18 would be able to access explicit sites if filters were not involved. Since 18 is a law in order to have access to most explicit material, then I do agree with internet filters for minors. However, once again I am torn about letting everyone regardless of age have access to everything, because internet filters are not 100% accurate at filtering out just the explicit things. Since this is a law, I am inclined to follow it.
I like having the ability to unblock sites if the filter blocked a certain site that should not have been blocked, or if an adult is requesting a site to be accessible.
What do you think of internet filters? Do you think that they are a good idea and have a place within libraries?
Oliver, K., Pinnell-Stephens, J., & Jones, B. (2011). All or Nothing: Hardly the Facts. Library Journal, 136(1), 42-43. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
I blogged about this issue this week also. I think filters on computers for children care probably a good idea, especially in the children's department. But, I don't think filters are effective in all instances for adults. And libraries should definitely remove filters if asked. Our old filter would sometimes block ads for underwear on the Kohls website or block breast cancer sites. If we have acceptable use policies, adults know they cannot access sexually explicit sites, so there really shouldn't be a need for filters for adults in my opinion. It's kind of like parents making rules in the house because one child is naughty, but all the children get punished. It doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes think that the filters are necessary, but I also think that as an adult I should be able to turn them off. I agree that as adults we should know what is appropriate and what isn't and I think that sometimes filters can remind some people that they probably shouldn't be looking at certain things in a public setting. So essentially I think filters can sometimes act as a deterrent even if there is the option to turn it off, which can be good in some cases.
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