Slashdot Mirror


Good Email For Kids?

mgessner writes "My kids are starting to want email accounts of their own. Even though gmail does a pretty good job of filtering spam, it's not perfect. Searching the web the other day for kid-safe email, I found a few sites that say they can do the job. What do others do for their kids' email? Pay for it? Just use a free service like gmail or yahoo? I don't pay for email accounts out of my own pocket, so I don't really see the need, but if the cost was a few bucks a month, I'd do it."

19 of 489 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What the problem with Gmail? by Eg0Death · · Score: 5, Funny

    The OP probably wants to prevent his kids from viewing the contents of the Spam folder. I know I'm not ready to explain to my 5 year old what a message about "H0t Yung $luts ReadY 2 Suk C0K" is really all about.

    --
    Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?
  2. If you want "GOOD" email service.... by zappepcs · · Score: 1, Funny

    Try looking at Motorola? http://www.good.com/

  3. Re:Just do what your parents did.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You people anymore!

  4. Re:Just do what your parents did.. by Eg0Death · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't have email and the intratubes when I was kid! We had to go pick up the phone and use the rotary dial! Now get off my lawn!

    --
    Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?
  5. Re:What the problem with Gmail? by geoffspear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Duh, so his friends can contact him when his cellphone is off.

    --
    Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.
  6. Re:It's the Ads! by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 4, Funny

    Girls In Underwear Pics
    Find Fresh Girls' Underwear Info. Fast'n Easy.
    -someunderwearwebsite

    Meet Vampire Males
    Meet Local Vampire Males Near You. View Profiles 100% Free. Join Now!
    -somegothwebsite

    Those ads have a lot more to do with what Google knows about you than what your friend sent...

    But thanks for sharing!

  7. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by devaudio · · Score: 3, Funny

    I must second parent post. I used Dans Guardian and 3 VLANS (kids, parents, outside) at my home, and their internet access level defined by their login. It all started when my 8 year old googled for "butts"

  8. Re:How old are they? by Freeside1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think that parents encouraging their children to look at porn would be a decent deterrent.
    The last thing I want to think about when I'm "seriously" looking at porn is my parents encouraging me.

  9. Re:It's the Ads! by tsalmark · · Score: 4, Funny

    I always try to explain that to people right after they say "Gmail has strange ads". They never get around to explaining the ads after that. I figure it's better for both of us.

  10. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by dietdew7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can get physically hurt on the internet. I have the callouses to prove it.

  11. Re:Worry about IM! by edmicman · · Score: 2, Funny

    I discovered that my wife was sleeping with her best friend (who is a lesbian). You should take a look at it.

    So you're saying an IM filter can eventually lead to a 3-way with my wife and her friend? Awesome!

  12. Re:What the problem with Gmail? by zumajim · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lazy? Wow, I think you're asking for it now. Life's too hectic for me to check my kid's Gmail accounts everyday -- I'm busy watching porn and running the meth lab.

  13. No Spam Filter = Free Sex Ed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    1) Wait till you think they are ready to have the "sex talk".
    2) Sign them up for an email account and turn off free spam filter.
    3) Kids learn about sex and human anatomy without you having to have an uncomfortable talk with them.
    4) Another problem the internet has solved for us!!

    I love technology!!

  14. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by ins0m · · Score: 2, Funny

    Use more lotion.

    At least your wrists weren't sprained enough to type that post, right?

    --
    Never attribute to Hanlon that which can be adequately attributed to Heinlein.
  15. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by philspear · · Score: 2, Funny

    It will mean a lot of work, but it will avoid more problems than it causes.

    Yeah, but one problem it might cause is extreme awkwardness. You're increasing the chances that you'll have to use the line "Well, at least I know now you're not gay." Do you really want to risk those type of situations? Sure your kid might grow up with unhealthy views of sex, but at least you won't know about it.

  16. Re:Get a Wii by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Child A: Hey, let's be friends!!! What's your email address?

    Child B: It's w5194403712844245@wii.com

    Child A: Fuck you buddy!

  17. Re:What the problem with Gmail? by pbhj · · Score: 2, Funny

    At 5 it's not like they should be using the computer without supervision anyway.

    Should I be worried that whilst I'm on the loo my 3 year old can put on the computer, load up firefox and go (via bookmark) to BBC iPlayer in order to get his fix of "The Owl" or "Bob the Builder" or whatever?

    Sometimes he'd rather play gcompris but mostly it's iPlayer that grabs him.

  18. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by Zwicky · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, maybe not so sucessfully since they haven't made me a grandpa yet

    Quick, somebody reply to me and make him a GP.

    --
    "Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
  19. Re:Is it ok to keep kids off the internet these da by gottebag · · Score: 2, Funny

    done