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Internet rating system needed, experts say

"Educating our teenagers to have the self-discipline to not view inappropriate content and assistance from the government through relevant policy-making is essential."

Chi Hui-jung, executive director of the Garden of Hope Foundation

Inappropriate use of the Internet, including the viewing of violent and pornographic material, is reaching epidemic proportions among the nation's teenagers, experts said yesterday.

To combat the problem an Internet content rating system and teaching teenagers to make wise choices online are essential, and would create a more ethical cyber world for the minor, they added.

"The cyber world is as informative as it is dangerous for our teenagers," said Dr Ang Peng-hwa (汪炳華), Dean of the School of Communications at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

"As governments around the world focus mainly on the economic aspect of the Internet, it is time for governments to set up alert systems and educate both parents and kids about the Web dangers," Ang said.

In an effort to provide a better and safer cyber world for minors, the Taiwan I-Link Community Association and the School of Communications at the National Chengchi University held an international conference entitled "Digital genesis: e-trend for youth" yesterday.

Representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs), academics and government officials shared views on the issue of Internet safety for minors.

Jeong Do-byung, chief executive of Information Communication Ethics Committee (ICEC), an NGO that provides an Internet rating system service in South Korea, said that the conflict between the freedom of speech and Internet content rating makes it hard for the Korean government to promote a more ethical cyber world for the youth.

"Putting the Internet rating system into law may violate freedom of speech. So we encourage parents to download our free content rating software, which categorizes Internet content into five levels and calls on Internet service providers to label their content," Jeong said.

"More importantly, we have initiated campaigns such as `e-clean Korea,' to increase public awareness and educate people about the importance of self-regulation, which is our ultimate goal in creating an ethical cyber world," he said.

According to a survey conducted by the Taipei Youth Activity Center last year, 70 percent of teenagers in Taipei browse the Internet on a daily basis. About 70 percent of those Internet users go online to chat or make new friends on a daily basis. Over 40 percent of the teenagers play online games daily.

A report done by Pew Internet & American Life Project last year showed that 64 percent of online teens say they know more about the Internet than their parents, and 66 percent of their parents agree.

Joseph Lin (林世華), chairman of Internet Consumers Association said that while the Government Information Office established an Internet Rating System Promotion Foundation last year to provide a safe Internet environment for kids, closing the knowledge gap between parents and their children is crucial.

"Parental supervision is important in protecting children from gaining access to harmful online information. [Parents] need to know what their kids do on the Internet," Lin said.

Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容), executive director of the Garden of Hope Foundation, suggested that the wise use of Internet is the ultimate goal, and is necessary for creating a healthier online world.

"In addition to educating our teenagers to have the self-discipline to not view inappropriate content and assistance from the government through relevant policy-making is essential," Chi said.
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