School Climate & Safety Report Roundup

Virtual-World Safety

By Katie Ash — January 05, 2010 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Nineteen of 27 virtual online worlds evaluated by the Federal Trade Commission contained either sexually or violently explicit content, says a report by the agency.

However, almost all of the explicit content encountered by the commission in child-oriented virtual online worlds occurred when testers were registered as adults or teenagers, rather than as children under age 13.

The report, which was directed by Congress in light of concerns about children’s accessibility to inappropriate content in virtual worlds, recommends five steps for virtual-world operators to take in order to decrease the amount of explicit content encountered by children. Those steps are to examine age-screening mechanisms; implement age-segregation techniques to ensure that members of the community interact with others in their age groups; evaluate the strength of language filters; provide guidance to community enforcers of online virtual worlds; and employ a staff of trained moderators who can quickly address any rule violations.

The commission also recommends that both children and parents become more educated about the benefits and risks of virtual online worlds.

A version of this article appeared in the January 06, 2010 edition of Education Week as Virtual-World Safety

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Big Goals, Small Start: Building MTSS to Scale
MTSS is a powerful framework for supporting student success, but implementation can be challenging. Learn from districts about their MTSS success stories and challenges.
Content provided by Panorama Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Recruitment & Retention Webinar
Exploring Staff Shortage Impact on Education
Learn about the impact of staff shortages, changing roles of educators, and how technology supports teachers & students.
Content provided by Promethean
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Improving Outcomes on State Assessments with Data-Driven Strategies
State testing is around the corner! Join us as we discuss how teachers can use formative data to drive improved outcomes on state assessments.
Content provided by Instructure

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School Climate & Safety Sandy Hook Promise CEO: 'School Shootings Are Preventable'
There have been 152 shootings on K-12 school property that resulted in firearm-related injuries or deaths since 2018.
2 min read
Back of a teen girl walking home from school while wearing a backpack with one strap hanging off her shoulder.
iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety 6-Year-Old Won't Be Charged After Shooting Teacher, Prosecutor Says
The local prosecutor said his office has yet to decide if any adults will be held criminally accountable.
4 min read
Students return to Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Va., Jan. 30, 2023. Authorities in the Virginia city where a 6-year-old shot and wounded his teacher will not seek charges against the child, the local prosecutor told NBC News on Wednesday, March 8.
Students return to Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Va., Jan. 30, 2023. Authorities in the Virginia city where a 6-year-old shot and wounded his teacher will not seek charges against the child, the local prosecutor told NBC News on March 8.
Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP
School Climate & Safety A Superintendent Left His Gun in a School Restroom. A Student Found It
A Texas superintendent has resigned after a student found his gun unattended. The incident follows debates over arming teachers.
4 min read
Image of street signs: (1) Stop sign, and (2) Gun Free School Zone.
Education Week and sshepard/iStock/Getty
School Climate & Safety The Nation's Largest District Saw an Increase in Policing at Schools Last Year
In the nation's largest school district, police last year arrested, detained, and walked students out more than before the pandemic.
6 min read
Close up of a police barricade with school kids blurred in the background.
iStock/Getty