Problem #1: Securing our Children on Social Networks
It is increasingly common for Children to want to get a Social network account for their teenage birthday. But with the whole world being on the web, unmonitored usage of Social networks can prove as dangerous as walking into a Carnival and letting your child run where they want to.
Constraints:
1. No Matter what is said, Children will find a way to get online
2. Parents do not have time to sit and monitor through every interaction of their kids - especially of strangers with the kids
Suggested Category: Web / Mobile
Stage: Problem
Problem Defined by Subbu Murugan, Ventunotech
Team In50hrs
Edit:
Folks, I do see a lot of folks responding to this as a social problem. The intent of denoting this problem - was not to figure out ways to socially throttle your kids, but to see if there is an opportunity for a product to exist here. Think along those lines.
Reader Comments (7)
I think this is a crucial problem. Not just that the parents getting time to monitor but more so social networking is new to them. Some of the ways to overcome this problem - 1. Create more awareness programmes in collaboration with right stakeholders 2. College Students should take initiatives to build awareness campaigns - zero/low budget films around this 3. Games can be developed which will carry a positive message 4. In think MTV/Channel V or other such channels should start some programmes around this 5. Young Entrepreneurs should observe one day as "Securing Social Networking for Children Day" in form of various activities. 6. CSR activities can be linked with the security campaigns. ( just AIDS campaign has become stronger in India, similar campaigns are required for this case as well.
One simple thing that one can do is to block the social networking sites and other websites which one thinks may distract their children.
i) Move the computer out of room to the hall where parents can see what the kid is doing with computer.
ii) Parents should join the kids network as friends so that they can see what kid and his friends share.
iii) Educate the kid about problems of social networks and traps.
iv) Donot buy latest smart phones to kids buy low end phones just enough features to message and call.
v) Engage the kids in some creative activity so that he will not get addicted to mobile or facebook.
Guys, Think Product ideas :)
Develop a software which hooks on to the wifi/ethernet port and scans and reports the activities on network to some website which is accessible to the parent.
if the software find some illegal activities, it shall disconnect the network connection.
This could be developed as a USB key kind of device which has to be made mandatory while accessing a computer.
I think we can come up with a product , which would monitor the children activity along the following lines.
The application (web/mobile) should start automatically as soon as a browser is clicked , or a chat window is opened.
It should then see what kind of discussion is going on. It should search for offensive words , chat lingos . And based on the settings from administrator,either save the details of the chats , and inform the administrator account or directly can display a message like " NOT ADVISABLE to continue" and then disconnect the chat.
I guess it is easier describing the flow , it would be a lot harder and challenging when it comes to implementing these , but worth a try i guess.
PS :- Please add more points to the list of things we need to take care of !
Piyush,
Wnat to attempt prototyping it?