Please discuss what solutions – legal or otherwise – to juvenile access to inappropriate internet content you would promote if you were an elected senator or representative in your home state

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary (in particular, this question will provoke strong opposing opinions and is designed to do so. The student should be graded on the discussion of the core issues, not regarding his or her specific opinions.).
• Students will invariably be split on this issue. Some will promote tough legislation regulating internet content. These students should discuss such efforts to date, the successful legal challenges made to such laws, and how regulations might be narrowed to pass constitutional challenge and options to regulation.
• Some students may focus on the parental responsibility involved and place the burden on families rather than government. They may stress the First Amendment and free speech. They should make distinctions between how the constitution applies to juveniles and adults, as well as how the courts have dealt with inherently dangerous or damaging behaviors to carve exceptions to constitutional provisions.
• Other students may focus on the obligation of business and technology to help solve this problem. They should explain why they believe the government can force a private business to spend money on preventing a danger based on public policy and give examples of other areas of the law where this has been done.