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Ask Slashdot: How To Best Setup a School Internet Filter?

An anonymous reader writes "I was recently volunteered to be the network/computer admin for a small non-profit school. One of the items asked of me had to do with filtering inappropriate content (i.e. stuff you wouldn't want your mother to see). Essentially we want to protect people who aren't able to protect themselves, at least while on campus. Basic site filtering is fairly easy — setup squid with one of the many filtering engines and click to filter the categories your interested. Additionally, making the computer lab highly visible uses public shame and humiliation to limit additional activity. The real question — How do you filter Facebook? There is a lot of great content and features on Facebook, and its a great way to stay in contact with friends, but there is also a potentially dark side. Along with inappropriate content, there is a tendency to share more information than should be shared, and not everyone follows proper security and privacy guidelines. What's the best way to setup campus-wide security/privacy policies for Facebook?"

7 of 454 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Don't by jhoegl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Until the dean says "I promote the school through Facebook!" and you reply with "You can do that at home".

  2. Who decides what's "inappropriate" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My mother was a porn star. There's not much that I wouldn't want her to see.

    Slippery slope, my man.

    1. Re:Who decides what's "inappropriate" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Cool, I thought I saw your Mom in "Slippery Slope - Volume III"

  3. The real question - how do you filter lunch? by Chemisor · · Score: 4, Funny

    There is a lot of great content and features in homemade lunches, and they are a great way to stay in contact with friends and enjoy eating, but there is also a potentially dark side. Along with inappropriate content, there is a tendency to share more than should be shared, and not everyone follows proper nutritional and safety guidelines.

    The solution is obvious: open a cafeteria on the premises and make it illegal to bring any outside food. This way total control over food quality and nutritional content can be achieved. Additionally, making the cafeteria highly visible uses public shame and humiliation to limit inappropriate activity, such as enjoying food.

  4. Re:Don't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Um, so, teenskissingtheirpussies. Linky??

  5. Dogbert, the network administrator by linebackn · · Score: 4, Funny
  6. Re:Don't by demonlapin · · Score: 4, Funny

    which is an obvious invasion of privacy

    I cannot imagine any actual important secret that I would entrust to an elementary or middle-school child's confidence, but if I really had one I wouldn't tell it to anyone over the phone. I'd announce that I was coming to pick them up, that there were some urgent family matters to deal with, and that they could not wait until school let out. Then I'd pick them up and tell them whatever it was so important to get a 13-year-old's opinion on right now.