Goo-Goo Eyeballs

In a world where parents are (or should be) deeply concerned about online predators and the privacy and security of their children, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable members of the family, according to Internet security firm, AVG, the numbers are going the other way. For example, an October 2010 report (Digital Birth) tells us that by aged 6 months most American babies already have a digital footprint. Picture the number of funny baby and toddler videos on YouTube. Throw in the funny commercials – like the E-Trade talking baby ads – featuring the little ones… wanna read the release the baby signed? Then add all the baby picture postings on Facebook. Can you imagine a young father-in-the-waiting-room without a camera?

Digital Birth also tells us that the online presence number grows quickly… 92% of children in the U.S. have an online presence by the time they are two, and even before they are born, 34% of moms have even posted their in-uterus sonogram online! Whoa! But kids’ abilities to access online and mobile content clearly outstrips their emotional ability to deal with what they might see. Surrounded by parents and siblings online and on mobile phones or sampling fare on tablets, tiny tots are highly imitative. Even the fake cell phones and play computers for the youngest set are simply preparations for an early introduction to technology.

As kids get older, the exposure grows, even as knowledge and information of the most useful variety flow down the same pipes, and computer illiteracy is simply a job-killer in later life. GPS capacity (where truants with GPS-linked phones have to text their school every few hours) can track the whereabouts of children, but still the growth and pervasiveness of this technology has far outstripped our ability to protect our children. A January 19^th posting on AVG’s Digital Diaries notes that “today’s kids are learning computer skills before life skills.” AVG goes on to note the scope of the societal change:

• More young children know how to play a computer game (58%) than swim (20%) or ride a bike (52%)

• 28% of young children can make a mobile phone call, but only 20% know to dial 911 in case of an emergency

• 69% of children aged 2-5 can operate a computer mouse, but only 11% can tie their own shoelaces

Perhaps the most important piece of data to come out of this survey: the fact that 69% of children aged 2-5 are using a computer in the first place.

We know that change is inevitable, and embracing new technology is always something that is easier to adopt as a part of growing up than trying to deal with such change later in life, but the threats to our most vulnerable citizens profoundly exceed our ability to generate appropriate protection mechanisms. As Congress grapples with improving COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), it reminds me of creating sailboat safety rules while traveling in a tiny boat on a vast and oiling, storm-infested sea.

I’m Peter Dekom, and sometimes, you just have to stop and look around to really see who we are and what we have become.