Microsoft Offers Tips to Keep Kids Safe On Xbox Live

[Jared]

...I am sure that children will all listen to it. Most dont care, they just want to swear at people and make themselves look good...

 

[RMcD94]

How about teaching your kid not to do things like that?

 

[Blimey]

Let's be honest, had this not happened, Microsoft would have just sat on their fat asses and done nothing. The instant it became a media story, Microsoft knew they had to do something about it.

Yes, I am cynical.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

A slightly more worrying idea is why the kid had nude photos of himself?

 

[kintaris]

What an oddly appropriate and reasonable response from Microsoft. I find that more unsettling than the original story.

 

[Stuntcrab]

I don't understand how the child got off with this, what he did essentially counts as the sale and distribution of child pornography (as in he was giving away nudes of himself in exchange for the credits). Children have been arrested for this before and for far less, for example 17 year old teens have been imprisoned for the distribution of child pornography because they have sent nudes of themselves to their girlfriend/boyfriend (Their parents would often check their phones, leading to this issue).

You, sir win

The Law enforcement smarts badge

Your right, if kids have been arrested for smaller stuff, then this 10 year old should

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Another good tip would be to tell anyone under fourteen to SHUT THE HELL UP during online games, because they're squeaky voices are a massive pain for my ears.
Also many of them seem to get aroused or excited when swearing, and do it profusely.

 

[Quid Plura]

If you're too young/immature to understand the ins and outs of the internet and it's seedier side, you're too young to be on Xbox Live unsupervised.

DING! Ten Points, top of the clas etc etc!
It's not MS' responsibility at the end of the day. I would think that raising your kids, as well as keeping them safe (on or offline) was top of the list of 'Things To Do When You're A Parent.'

Same as with Game Ratings, parents should familiarise themselves fully with the product before allowing their kids to use it, instead of freaking out when Junior starts playing and/or quoting an 18-rated game.

Yay! What do I win?

People are always looking to blame others and offload responsibility - even when it comes to their child's safety and wellbeing, it seems. Some might make arguments attaining to privacy and trust, but if you feel your child is mature enough to use the internet and don't supervise them, you have only them to blame if (and when) they get themselves into trouble - after all, they are mature enough, right? Or were you wrong?

I don't know, maybe I'm ranting, but I've seen a lot of it first hand and it really gets me going. Grr.

It's often easier to blame someone else, I guess.

 

[Booze Zombie]

The parents could've probably educated their son a bit more on the matter, too.

"Son, you're not legal to make babies, don't go showing your bits on the goddamn camera."

 

[Monshroud]

I hate to say this, but I think a lot of the blame in that story is due to the parents. Most parents buy a game system and they don't read the instructions, they don't understand the parental controls or they don't take the time to configure them.

I am really proud to see everything that Microsoft is offering to protect kids. Now if only parents would step up and use them...

 

[Girl With One Eye]

This is what I want to say to those parents, "Do you control your kids, or do your kids control you?". Seriously, people need to be responsible for their own kids and stop looking for people to blame.