Wii Porn: The Next Great Techno Menace

from the protect-the-children dept

A Dallas area news station has come to the amazing discovery that a broadband connected Wii console, using an Opera browser, can access pornography -- something that is clearly a threat to the children. Packed with the same kind of idiotic fear mongering usually reserved for WiFi hotspot stories, the report alerts its readers that the PS3 and Wii are "compatible with sexually-oriented Web sites," making it "easy for kids to access porn." Obviously these consoles are no different than PCs when it comes to browsing, and kids with lazy parents can already easily access porn on the PC their absentee folks leave unmonitored in their bedroom. The story fails to inform the reader that the Wii comes with fairly robust parental controls, which allow parents to limit browsing to just the Nintendo channels, or disable browsing entirely. The story author seems outraged that porn sites are adapting their content for better viewing on the Wii -- because it's apparently bad to cater to the millions of adults who have a taste for both porn and Zelda. Lazy parents tend to use game consoles as babysitters, so it's probably a real downer they'll now be forced to actually understand the technology they're giving their children.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:07pm

    Thats awesome. Have there been any stories like this about the PSP being able to do this with Wi-Fi?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:09pm

    awesome anyway

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Matt Bennett, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:16pm

    Hey. I could become a reporter, write an article.

    News Alert at 6: Can Gaming Consoles Be Used to STEAL WI-FI? Yes, they can! What you need to know to protect yourself, tonight!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MIX, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:31pm

    I`M A WII-WACKER!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:32pm

    Now if they made Wii porn games... imagination would be the only limiting factor.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:33pm

    Now if they made Wii porn games... imagination would be the only limiting factor.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    You've got to be kidding, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:34pm

    glad television doesn't have this problem

    That's right, throw out the wii and watch something safe like HBO, Showtime, the news, Jerry Springer, the Playboy Channel. How about books instead, like "Johnny's two daddies" or something wholesome along those lines.

    Honest mom, I typed in whitehouse.com

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:46pm

    Seriously, if a kid will find porn, a kid will find porn. If you want to stop him, that's your responsibility, not the responsibility of the company that made the machine that allows the kid to get to porn sites if he has it set up right. Has anyone complained that Microsoft allows kids to see porn? So does Google! And Yahoo! AOL, even! And perhaps someone should fix dicks.com before more kids looking for sporting equipment get something that they didn't expect.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    E, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:54pm

    "Hi, I'm Ric Romero, reporting LIVE from Dallas. This just in..."

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Benifiting Doubter, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:54pm

    As "lazy" as you contend the parents are, Karl, the fact is most parents don't know they need to "force themselves to understand the technology".

    Most parents aren't part of your sacred industry, and many don't know or would think that a console they bought for Johnny to play tennis on would also have the ability to access "Schindler's Fist".

    Get off your high horse. Most people in this world don't always care about the same things you do. Try sympathizing. It'll make you look less like an elitist idiot.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      James, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:01pm

      Re:

      Awwwwww you're saying its tough to be a parent (sniff, sniff)... guess you should'a thought of that before you forgot the condoms.

      Stop preaching to the rest of us, we know you have kids, we also know it was YOUR choice to have them.

      Last I heard when you choose to have something in your life as complicated and needing of attention, such as children, you also have to be responsible for them. If you can't, or won't, learn about the things you're buying for your kids then it is YOUR fault. Suck it up.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Benifiting Doubter, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:06pm

        Re: Re:

        Good one, James.

        However, nowhere in the comment I made did I say or imply that I had children. In fact, I don't.

        I can't empathize, but that doesn't mean I can't sympathize.

        In fact, I sympathize right now for the kids you one day may have.

        I can also sympathize with your parents who obviously must be upset with the way things turned out.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 6:33pm

        Re: Re:

        written by someone who OBVIOUSLY doesn't have children...a thing....no matter HOW hard you try...you can't POSSIBLY understand unless you are a parent....idiot

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Not a parent, 9 Jan 2007 @ 8:11pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          I am not a parent, but I understand what it means to be one. I have been around children all my life, even working in a daycare, and living with children since they have been born(the oldest is now 5).

          Tell me something, if you leave your child at a daycare wouldn't you expect the daycare providers to know what the children are doing? What the children are looking at? Wouldn't you expect them to know the possible dangers(physical and mental) of any toy or technology(especially game consoles which are now targeting adults) they allow the kids to use? Personally, I would expect the daycare to do all of these things. So why is it that a parent can get away without doing these things? How is it that if a child in a daycare, or other such temporary care, is capable of doing something that society sees as harmful, and the daycare has no knowledge of the child being able to do this it is the temporary care givers fault for not knowing. If the child does it under the care of the parent then it's the companies fault for not warning against the obvious, or the porn companies fault for being there?

          Now, on the topic of the article: I agree 100% with the author because the Wii has parental controls, and they are not a hidden feature, the console itself shows many announcements about the controls and how to set them. Plus if a parent gives a child a new "toy" it is their responsibility to know what it can do, and learn to use it so their child cant do things against the rules with it.
          I do want to know however why people continue to be amazed that something that can access the internet can access porn. Are people so dumb that they can't understand the concept that the internet has porn?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 8:18pm

          Re: Re: Re: to Anonymous Coward @ 6:33

          Actually, you can. Being a teacher is similiar, and so is a grandparent that keeps the grandkids often. Stuff like that can be like parenting. Even babysitting.

          Trust me, being a teacher, if I don't understand something that kids have, I'll figure it out or just ask a student.


          There's a large responibility, and so what. Everyone has to eventually suck it up in their life. So unless they want their kid having fun with his 'wii', then they should understand the possiblities that are available.

          Sure, I can't imagine my arm being ripped off. Obviously, but there's different versions of parenting.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Troyx, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:02pm

      Re:

      No mention of the fact that the Wii-mote is basically a vibrating stick, very similar to some, ummm... other kinds of toys?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      PageMaker, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:14pm

      Re: lazy parents

      I think what Karl was referring to is, this is somewhat akin to handing a 16 year old the keys to a car, and not caring whether they have a license, or whether they, or even you know how to actually drive a car.

      Anything that a parent is going to give to one of their children, they should in turn have taken the time to find out what the potential dangers are of that device/technology.

      These consoles are not created *solely* for use by children, therefore it should not be the responsibility of the manufacturer to 'dummy down' the technology to be 'safe' for Johnny to play table tennis on.

      I don't think that Karl's stance is a high horse at all; parents should take the time to learn about such technologies - and what they're capable of - prior to giving them to their children.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Benifiting Doubter, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:22pm

        Re: Re: lazy parents

        Thanks, PageMaker, for your obviously intelligent reply.

        I am not on either side of this issue. I think you're right about not placing responsibility on the manufacturer to limit the product they sell. Their goal is to make money, and nothing else. I cannot blame them.

        I however also cannot blame a parent from somewhere in the Midwest of America who saved up every paycheck for the past 3 months to try to bring a smile to their child's face on Christmas morning. They may not have any idea that such things are even capable, and therefore wouldn't even think of asking.

        And even if they did ask, I doubt the lady at Wal-Mart has the knowledge to inform anyone.

        My beef is with those (like Karl) who comment like everyone should be as "smart" as he is.

        Personally, my kudos goes to the kids that hacked the machine.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          E, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:44pm

          Re: Re: Re: lazy parents

          Uhhh... it doesn't require any "hacking."
          Step 1) Turn on Wii
          Step 2) Get Opera browser
          Step 3) Visit pr0notube.com
          Step 4) ?????
          Step 5) PROFIT!

          And if parents are too dumb to stop their kids from getting pr0n on their Wii, then they shouldn't get mad when they find their kid spankin the monkey in the living room. They should just stand there and think, "Wow, modern technology sure is confusing! Good thing Bobby knew how to set up our router, our firewall, and his own Wii. He EARNED that sick Japanese fetishist pr0n!"

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 12 Jan 2007 @ 8:11pm

        Re: Re: lazy parents

        Parents are Lazy these days, if you give something to your kid, duh READ the F'n manual, turn on parental filters, show some damn interest in your kids life not whine later your kid found porn. Theres only one person responsible for your kid, YOU. Its not, Mine, the mailman, the Cable TV installer, the President, or the Gaming company, just the Parent, if you cant handle even a simple thing like monitoring what your child is doing then you dont deserve to have children period. 100% lazy parents is the reason why this stuff happens.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jack Sombra, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:32pm

      Re:

      "As "lazy" as you contend the parents are, Karl, the fact is most parents don't know they need to "force themselves to understand the technology"."
      Parents should "force themselves" to know and understand about everything their kids gets involved in, be that who they are hanging out with,where they are hanging out, if that weekend at a friends house will be supervised, is that movie suitable,is their first car safe, does the fact that gaming console connects to the internet mean the can access the WHOLE internet so forth

      And then with that information make informed judgements on what is suitable for their child.

      If they stick their heads in the sand then the number one culprit when something goes wrong is themselves

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jon, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:44pm

      Re:

      Why should parents get any sympathy for not monitoring what their children are doing? Why should parents be given a free ride on teaching their children right or wrong? Why should parents be given a free ride on ignorance? Last time I checked, ignorance wasn't an acceptable excuse for much of anything. What part of "Can surf the internet" is ambiguous? Is it fault that a parent couldn't put two and two together?

      It should be a crystal CLEAR warning to anyone these days what access to the internet means.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      read the box, 9 Jan 2007 @ 5:53pm

      Re:

      If the parents read the box when they bought the thing maybe there wouldnt be a pronbem. Most of the worlds problems can be resolved if people would just lear to freakin read the user manual!! I bet there is even a warning in there saying all websites can be accessed. and telling people to set the parental controls these companies arnt stupid and have probaly been sued before multiple times. its not the companies fault if people never finsihed grade school and cant even spell thier own names is it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:24am

      Re:

      Pure genius.

      Yes, let's force the corporations and public internet to cave to regulations because some parents don't feel they should be held responsible for the actions of their children.

      Let's force the government to be our kids nanny. Yeah, that'll work. ...and our taxes won't raise to unbelievable proportions because of it.

      Dude, get a clue. Parents have a responsibility to educate themselves. It's a sacrifice, it takes effort, and it takes commitment. Anyone not willing to do those things for their children simply should not be having them.

      It *is* that simple. I have 3 of them. You do what it takes. Classes, parenting organizations, PTA, school sponsored events, whatever. It is not the job of business, government, or anyone else to raise my children, and frankly, I deeply resent any suggestion of the contrary.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      PT, 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:44am

      Forget about parents for a moment

      Why isn't anyone flaming the news media for omitting that parental controls exist on the Wii to prevent this sort of thing? I'm reading these arguments about parent's responsibility, but what about journalist's responsibility in presenting ALL the facts? It's these types of news stories that, as pointed out, generate fear where there shouldn't be any.

      "This just in! Leaving your home in the morning for work could become fatal!"

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 2:59pm

    wii_wacker.com

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Diana, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:02pm

    Now if they made Wii porn games... imagination would be the only limiting factor.

    I thought people with no imagination was the same people looking at porn.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    la bête, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:03pm

    Why should a parent assume that something they give their children is child-safe? Plenty of parents take the time to understand what it is their kids are doing, and if the content they are accessing is safe. Suggesting lazy parents get up off the sofa and check out the cool new toy they are thinking of buying little Jimmy for Christmas is hardly elitist, any more than suggesting parents look at the sugar content of the food they dish out is.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    smarter solutions, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:07pm

    Why not set the gaming system to child proof at the factory with a default password and instructions for parents to change the password or maturity level of the user. Make proper censorship a priority not a secondary thought. The average user/buyer could easily remove the blocks. Also, if the kid's buying it himself for 400+ bucks then maybe he should be able to wack it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:17pm

      Re:

      i think it is set like that. atleast in the one i used you had to type in the password

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Drukas, 9 Jan 2007 @ 8:25pm

      Re: smartersolutions

      Why should those of us who don't need nor want those settings or controls have to deal with undoing them? I would be pissed if I bought a game system and had to waste my time demoralizing it just because a few uptight parents can just be lazy. Think of it you go out and buy a wii, then purchase a game rated m. You get home, set up the sytem, and pop in your new game only to have the sytem reject it because a few prudes might be offended if their kids actaully have fun.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        drjones, 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:24am

        Re: Re: smartersolutions

        "Why should those of us who don't need nor want those settings or controls have to deal with undoing them? I would be pissed if I bought a game system and had to waste my time demoralizing it just because a few uptight parents can just be lazy. Think of it you go out and buy a wii, then purchase a game rated m. You get home, set up the sytem, and pop in your new game only to have the sytem reject it because a few prudes might be offended if their kids actaully have fun."

        Exactly. The owners of most game consoles are Adults! These things arent designed primarily for kids anymore.

        I actually sent this letter to the storywriter when I saw the article yesterday:

        While its good to educate parents that any internet connected device, game consoles included, can generally be used to access porn in one way or another, it's very misinformed of that mother to say that the adult industry "tricks and targets kids into learning too much, too fast.".

        The average video game player is age 33!! Source: http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php. The basic assumption that since some adult sites cater their material to video game devices means they are trying to "lure kids in" is totally false. The average gamer is the adult industry's target demographic, so it only makes sense that adult content is going to make its way to video game devices.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:16am

      Re:

      Why not set the gaming system to child proof at the factory with a default password and instructions for parents to change the password or maturity level of the user.

      most game systems that play DVD's come that way. often, you can't undo it.

      i have a ps2 and an xbox and i have to do some sort of parent code thing every time i put in a dvd that isn't rated G. talk about annoying. thankfully i don't have to do that with games.

      children cause so freakin much trouble for the rest of us, if you ask me life would be better if we banned them instead of all the vices that might have the possibility of somehow harming a child without responsible parents.

      sure, i'll miss the two kids that i have, but if it stops all this "think of the children" garbage, it's a scarifice i am willing to make.

      we could send people around to round them up, like stray dogs. we could ban them in public places, like airplanes, restaurants, and movie theaters.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Duh, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:07pm

    Most people...

    Most people don't care until it affects them.

    If you don't want to exercise parental responsibility, then you shouldn't become parents.

    It takes time and effort to be a good parent. But most people are too lazy to even consider that.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    why,why,why, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:09pm

    that is hilarious

    Elitist Idiot that is funny, like sympathizing would make someone less of an elitist or an idiot. You can look at Porn on a Zune or heaven forbid, which it does, on an IPOD.

    Just go on believing porn is cool and you came from a monkey, and evolution make complete sense. Maybe there will be a problem with spouses getting beat because they won a game. Would you say beatting ok just not with the Wii controller.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Benifiting Doubter, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:12pm

      Re: that is hilarious

      >>Elitist Idiot that is funny, like sympathizing would make someone less of an elitist or an idiot.

      Uhh, yes. By definition it does.

      >>Just go on believing porn is cool and you came from a monkey, and evolution make complete sense. Maybe there will be a problem with spouses getting beat because they won a game. Would you say beatting ok just not with the Wii controller.

      I have no idea what the hell that meant.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jalb_k, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:51pm

      Re: that is hilarious

      >Just go on believing porn is cool

      Isn't it?

      >and you came from a monkey,

      I didn't, you may have but I know I didn't. It's patently obvious that monkeys and apes are two completely seperate evolutionary tracks.

      >and evolution make complete sense.

      Certainly does, quite a deal more than creation you simpleton.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:09pm

    Everyone knows porn stunts your growth. Think of the kids. If only i hadnt looked at my dads playboy books......i coulda been somethin great.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mixlplix, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:09pm

    Everyone knows porn stunts your growth. Think of the kids. If only i hadnt looked at my dads playboy books......i coulda been somethin great.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      misanthropic humanist, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:25pm

      Re:

      "Everyone knows porn stunts your growth."

      Rubbish. By the time I hit school I had a right arm like Popeye.

      "compatible with sexually-oriented Web sites," making it "easy for kids to access porn."

      This is the sales pitch not the commentry Karl. Kids today have it too easy.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    John, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:14pm

    Get off the sofa

    Maybe if you got off the sofa and played the game with your kids it would show you had some interest in what they do.

    Maybe it would open up something called communication.

    You know communication is. It is the thing you blame your boss for not doing with you.

    (get the hint)

    If you do not know how the game / technology works just ask your kids.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    SomeDallasGuy, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:18pm

    PSP porn

    "Have there been any stories like this about the PSP being able to do this with Wi-Fi?" Funny you should say that, I think it was the very same station in Dallas that had that story earlier on in '06.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mixlplix, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:22pm

    You are NOT going to keep porn from your kids. Hello! Its everywhere. Talk and feel any way you want. It doesnt matter. Trying to keep kids from porn is like the RIAA stopping DLs. ITS NOT HAPPENING.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Sniperdoc (profile), 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:23pm

    O...M...F...G...

    You know what... let's just can the 360, the PS3, and by the way, lets get rid of computers too. Of course it's Nintendo's fault for allowing web browsing on the Wii. Why don't the right folks take the dang responsibility and just can Al Gore... I mean he invented "Internet" in the first place right?

    The PARENTS need to start taking some control and responsibility in teaching their kids what is wrong and what is right. The PARENTS need to get a little I.T. savvy and start realizing that all they need to do is purchase a Router that has parental controls on it, and then they can restrict their kids to whatever website they want with those parental controls.

    If they want to get their kids electronic hardware with web access, then PARENTS need to start learning a bit about how to control the access.

    But of course, it's always better to blame the device and not the user right?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MikeT, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:29pm

    It is stupid

    This is one of those WTF were they thinking issues. This was guaranteed to be controversial and to give fodder to those who believe that the porn industry wants to get kids hooked on porn.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Jack Sombra, 9 Jan 2007 @ 3:39pm

      Re: It is stupid

      "This is one of those WTF were they thinking issues. This was guaranteed to be controversial and to give fodder to those who believe that the porn industry wants to get kids hooked on porn."
      Not really, one of the biggest markets (if not biggest) these days in gaming is Male, 20 to 35, which i would say is probably the biggest market for porn as well

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    squid, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:16pm

    some people...

    Some people get their jollies by being wiied on.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    GoodPeace, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:21pm

    stop the nonsense about the kids....

    all I wanna know is if there are any interactive porn sites, where the wii remote can be used to navigate, say erhm, objects on the screen?

    ;)

    oohh, now the kids can't read techdirt anymore, they might be infested with evil thoughts

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:38pm

    Has anyone ever considered that someone could use bi-planes to sky-write porn? Somebody better ban airplanes before some talented pilot exposes our children to horrible graphic sexual images!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Beefcake, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:43pm

    It ain't the parents

    who are lazy these days. It's the kids. When I was that age I had to figure out how to get the magazines and videos, then had to stash them from my parents. Nowadays they just access it on their gaming console and their parents have no idea how the damn thing works to find out. It's too easy.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:49pm

    The Wii can only connect via wireless broadband. I think any household with the proper connectivity is also going to have, oh, a [b]computer hooked to the internet[/b]. Not just "a" internet... the very same one the Wii connects to. And their thirteen year old boy has already seen more than people a hundred years ago saw in their whole life. Best solution? Keep the Wii and the computers in the living room and out of the bedrooms.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dan, 9 Jan 2007 @ 4:50pm

    Ok there is plenty of reference to the fact that some parents might not understand what Wii is capable of and while I completely agree with this statement I also do not see those parent having WiFi installed in their homes and Wii hooked up to internet and further more you actually need to download opera browser to Wii in order to get potential access to porn. Now if parent are able to do all this then certainly they are not dumb enough not to understand what Internet browser can do.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Stu, 9 Jan 2007 @ 5:09pm

    "any interactive porn sites, where the wii remote can be used to navigate, say erhm, objects on the screen?"

    It'll be coming (no pun intended) soon.

    Anything that can used for sex will be used for sex more than for any other use, regardless of its intended purpose.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Reverend Davidius, 9 Jan 2007 @ 5:24pm

    an educational video

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rick The Ruler, 9 Jan 2007 @ 5:25pm

    Pron

    Worring about theses game machines getting porn is ridiculous! All you have to do is turn on the tube, your so called "Family Programming" is full of sex, the commercials are full of sex. The fact that somone found a way to get sex to the masses one more different way shouldn't surprise us should it?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Clibby, 9 Jan 2007 @ 5:51pm

    I however also cannot blame a parent from somewhere in the Midwest of America who saved up every paycheck for the past 3 months to try to bring a smile to their child's face on Christmas morning. They may not have any idea that such things are even capable, and therefore wouldn't even think of asking.

    ummm.... It does come with a users guide. I think most parents can read if they want to. It's not to hard to flip through the manual before you hook the system up to the internet and see what its capabilities are.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 6:10pm

    PSP

    The PSP requires no additional downloads to access the internet right out of th e box. Access to a wifi network is the only requirement for access to any and all internet content..

    Reminds me of being in EB the other day. Two 13ish guys go to the counter with an "M" rated game. Clerk says he can't sell it to them. Kid asks if he can call his dad for permission. Clerk say "ok". Someone is on the kids cell phone (presumably father). Clerk takes phone and says that kid is attempting to purchase an "M" rated game. Father doesn't ask ANY questions...name of game, reason for rating...nothing. Just says "yeah, ok. Let him buy it."
    Parenting via cell phone...one of the great unintended consequences of technology.

    Kind like the line from the Breakfast Club...

    --"One of these days these kids are going to be taking care of you."
    --"Don't count on it."

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 7:39pm

    Lazy Parents

    What kind of an excuse is "not knowing to take the time to understand the technology"? We're only drowning in technology. Honestly, if you don't want to take the time to understand your child's world, you have no business having children.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Concerned Parent, 9 Jan 2007 @ 8:21pm

    Blah Blah Blah Parents.

    "Lazy parents tend to use game consoles as babysitters, so it's probably a real downer they'll now be forced to actually understand the technology they're giving their children."

    This from a site that has articles about sensationalized headlines with no facts, the wrong facts, etc. Articles that talk about studies only seeing half the problem or not doing things right. Sheese talk about your half truths.
    So Karl, how many lazy parents we talking here? Also, define Lazy while your answering that.

    I love these posts where parents are the root of evil in these cases because they didn't police their kids. This article should be about the idiot who sensationalized this ridiculous subject and it started that way. Your problem, as I see it Karl, is your too lazy to finish the article with some real thought and decided to blame the parents instead.

    With kids it all comes down to free will. Kids can not be policed 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Not anywhere by anyone. Kids will do what kids want. If they have been raised decently they will usually do the right thing. But with kids, there is a lot of social pressure or peer pressure from other kids. That pressure and a need to belong can do strange things to the smartest most level headed kid in the world, turn him/her into part of the crowd, gang, whatever.

    Tell me this, what did you do that your parents never saw or knew about? I did quite a few things. Doesn't mean my parents were bad or lazy. It just means I was.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Celes, 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:33am

      Re: Blah Blah Blah Parents.

      While even good parents cannot completely keep their kids out of trouble, the difference between good and bad parents is that the good ones try. It sounds like your parents would've read the manual for the Wii and set the parental control (though you might've bypassed it later).

      I was blessed with wonderful parents - always wanted to know what was going on with me, never missed a school concert or sports game, the works. And my dad even made it a point to know more about computers than I did for most of my teenage years! Nevertheless, I ended up doing lots of stuff they wouldn't be proud of. But they tried their best. Any parent who doesn't at least *try* (in this particular case, by setting the damn parental control) is doing a disservice to their children, and to blame the manufacturers or the porn vendors is ridiculous.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 9 Jan 2007 @ 8:27pm

    zomg?! the internet has porn?! no way!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shalkar, 9 Jan 2007 @ 9:34pm

    My Opinion is:

    Any good parent will at least try and understand what they're buying their kid. Any parent who just takes their kids' "word" for what something is... Well they're a "DEE DEE DEE"!

    If you're a parent, it is your responsibility to look after your child! Surpriiiise! :D If you don't like that, well tough! Get used to it! The world isn't going to suddenly make a change because you "just can't understand that kind of technology".

    People who don't even try to understand what they're getting thier kids should be shown no mercy when it comes to scathing comments. Learn or burn! Once you lose the ability to adapt, you're already dead.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Between two worlds, 9 Jan 2007 @ 10:39pm

    Wii web browsing and child-friendly

    I wonder if this has to be an "us" vs. "them" situation or if just maybe there can be merit on both sides. Nintendo IS in business to make money. Parents who have saved their money to buy their children a Wii and get them up and moving DO love their children and are trying to do well by them. Most parents are "immigrants" to the world of technology while many younger people are "natives" when it comes to technology. Some immigrants never quite make it to that place in the new "land" when it comes to understanding the language, culture, etc., but the next generation, the natives, do well. It is unfair to label parents "stupid" or "lazy" because they are clueless that a Wii poses any danger in regard to web browsing capabililty. Parents are neither perfect nor infallible, they're just people. They work to make a living and do lots of other things in the interest of their children; they are busy and trying to keep up with life. It seems harsh to hold these technology immigrants to such high expectations and infer that they don't care. If the Wii came with the restrictions and a "Parental Advisement" brochure explaining things to parents and giving them guidance on how to make their Wii child-safe, it is hard to see how the maker would stop making money or even lose money. Wouldn't that be a win-win?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jeff, 10 Jan 2007 @ 12:43am

    OH COME ON KARL!

    There's a THIN THIN line between Techdirt *REPORTING* the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) and Techdirt *INCITING* the FUD.

    In general, those using FUD as a weapon or as fuel to a fire start by MISREPORTING THE FACTS. You can't even get it straight within your own story. Come on! Let's review:

    A) "Obviously these consoles are no different than PCs when it comes to browsing..."

    -vs.-

    B) "The story fails to inform the reader that the Wii comes with fairly robust parental controls, which allow parents to limit browsing to just the Nintendo channels, or disable browsing entirely."

    Statement (A) is patently proven false by statement (B).

    Take a look at what Nintendo offers for Parental Controls on the link below, and THEN show me where I can set that up on my PC. On IE, on Firefox, on Opera, or on Safari on my Mac. Nope. Can't freakin' do it. BECAUSE THE WII *GASP!* IS NOT A PC OR A MAC. IT'S A WII.

    Pay close attention, Karl. I'm not calling you stupid. I'm not calling you a liar. I'm not calling you incompetent. I'm not calling you ignorant of the facts. I'm just saying the facts as you present themselves CONTRADICT THEMSELVES. Whether you consider yourself a blogger, a reporter, or whatever, CONTRADICTING FACTS DISCREDIT YOUR OWN IMAGE AND, BY ASSOCIATION, YOUR ORGANIZATION WHICH IS TECHDIRT.

    Please try to do better.

    Link to Parental Controls info on Nintendo's site:
    http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/wii/en_na/settingsParentalControls.jsp

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      chris (profile), 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:33am

      Re: OH COME ON KARL!

      show me where I can set that up on my PC

      in IE6: click tools|internet options|content

      look under the "content advisor" section and click on the "enable" button. then choose the stuff you want to block. the defualt tolerance level is 0, which means it blocks pretty much everything in the following categories:

      language
      nudity
      sex
      violence

      there don't appear to be controls built into the default install of firefox and i have never used opera... so i would imagine that you shouldn't install those on a PC you want your kids to use unless you have a plugin or some other application to do it for you.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Enrico Suarve, 10 Jan 2007 @ 7:09am

        Re: Re: OH COME ON KARL!

        "in IE6: click tools|internet options|content look under the "content advisor" section and click on the "enable" button. then choose the stuff you want to block. the defualt tolerance level is 0, which means it blocks pretty much everything in the following categories:"

        Sorry to burst your bubble but that only works if the websites in question rate themselves - if a site does not rate itself it will go right through

        Not trying to be a smart arse but just in case anyone is relying on this feature to protect their kids

        PT - spot on the sensationalist news media are the baddies - half investigated or half reported 'news' is responsible for a lot - they could have used this as a chance to educate people as to a danger and it’s solution but instead went for sensationalism - bastards!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 26 Feb 2007 @ 2:06pm

          Re: Re: Re: OH COME ON KARL!

          "in IE6: click tools|internet options|content look under the "content advisor" section and click on the "enable" button. then choose the stuff you want to block. the defualt tolerance level is 0, which means it blocks pretty much everything in the following categories:"

          "Sorry to burst your bubble but that only works if the websites in question rate themselves - if a site does not rate itself it will go right through"

          No, sorry to burst YOUR bubble. You can also set IE to block UNRATED content as well as any other content - bitch...

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Enrico Suarve, 10 Jan 2007 @ 2:32am

    Parental Control = Lawsuit

    Hi just a few thoughts

    Firstly to those in the post who obviously think no one is allowed an opinion on this unless they have kids, I am a parent

    Yeah I'm not comfy with the idea of my kids accessing porn but yeah I am familiar with the idea that it is my role and the role of anyone I designate as a carer (teachers etc) to ensure that I do as much as possible to limit it if I decide this is required

    Nintendo are not to blame for the internet and all they did was give access to it from their console - no doubt a great selling point and one which they will have to do to compete with 360 and PS (which can access the internet and can access porn)

    If Nintendo were to limit the internet to only 'child-friendly' sites as a default the only way the could guarentee this would be to only allow access to sites run by them or licensed by them

    Exactly the same people as in this post would be on another one complaining about Nintendo restricting competition unfairly - in much the same way as MS is shouted down every time they bundle a browser/spyware/anything with their OS

    Maybe Nintendo should release two versions in clearly marked boxes – ‘Parental Control activated’/‘Parental Control de-activated’

    On the other hand maybe we as parents should take enough interest in our kids to read an instruction manual or find stuff out?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Exiled From the mainstream, 10 Jan 2007 @ 2:56am

    The Lawyers cometh...

    You know at least ONE ignorant bum that forgot the condom will try and sue over it but thats beside the point somewhat.

    It amazes me how everyone thinks the internet is somehow magically childproof (I'm channeling Maddox here. I know there are smart people on earth but we both know there are idiots around so don't yell at me for generalizing) and they don't have to worry about a dam thing and are free of monitoring their kids while their on the internet in any and I mean ANY form. It just doesn't work like that! The internet is almost like rock and roll was, old people hate it since its new and threatens their way of life. All I can think of right now is those "Spay and neuter your pets today!" commercials, except now I want to do them to morons contributing to the moron population.

    To the parents that actually try and raise a kid, good on ya and good luck. Just remember they'll know more about technology than you if you only LET them. Just because you're from before the internet was made don't mean you cant learn about it. So learn, live, and get on their butts the moment they start putting in odd entries on the browser history. Sadly I bet most of the "Parents" reading this wont have a clue what I meant by that.

    Kinda sad when you think about it. The Internet, possibly mankind's greatest invention, linking ideas, ideals, information, and people together. And what the hell is it used for? Finding BOOBIES!! Man talk about ruining something that could've benefited mankind as a whole.

    Footnote:I'm talking about the internet itself and not the way or shape its accessed be it PC, or now the "Unholy Wii". Now that my 2 cents are in, I'm gone.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    YouKnowNothing, 10 Jan 2007 @ 6:22am

    "If you don't want to exercise parental responsibility, then you shouldn't become parents.

    It takes time and effort to be a good parent. But most people are too lazy to even consider that."

    Hear, hear.

    To all the whiners complaining that they just can't possibly monitor everything their kids do/see/hear/go/play with/hang out with/...

    FUCK YOU!

    You may not want to believe this, and as incomprehesible it may be to your stunted, stupid, lazy minds THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOUR KIDS. In the words of George Carlin...

    "And I also know that all you boring single dads and working moms, who think you're such fucking heros, aren't gonna like this, but somebody's gotta tell you for your own good: your children are overrated and overvalued, and you've turned them into little cult objects. You have a child fetish, and it's not healthy. And don't give me all that weak shit, "Well, I love my children." Fuck you! Everybody loves their children; it doesn't make you special. John Wayne Gacy loved his children. Yes, he did. That's not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is this constant, mindless yammering in the media, this neurotic fixation that suggests that somehow everything--everything--has to revolve around the lives of children. It's completely out of balance. "

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Reverend Davidius, 10 Jan 2007 @ 11:48am

      I'll raise your George Carlin with a Bill Hicks

      "...If you have children here tonight, I assume some of you do. I am sorry to tell you this: they are not special... lets be clear on this, I know YOU think they're special, I'm aware of that. I'm just tryin to tell you they're not. Did you know that every time a guy comes, he comes 200,000,000 sperm, did you know that? 200,000,000 sperm, and you mean to tell me you think your child is SPECIAL? Because one out of 200,000,000 sperm THAT LOAD, we're talkin one load, connected. Gee what are the fucking odds? Two hundred, you know what the means, I have wiped entire civilizations off my chest with a gray gym sock, THAT is special. Entire nations have flaked and crusted in the hair around my navel, maybe even Gidea. That is special, and I want you to think about that you egg carryin beans out there, with that holier-than-thou, we have the gift of life ATTITUDE. I'VE TOSSED UNIVERSES IN MY UNDERPANTS WHILE NAPPING. Boom, a milky way shoots into my jockey shorts, what's for fuckin breakfast?" - Bill Hicks, we know he rests in peace.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    everyone is dumb. reallly....dumb, 10 Jan 2007 @ 9:02am

    ianap, bipoot (i am not a parent, but i play one on tv)

    ok, yeah, parents should know what their kids do, but it is impossible to know evereything about your kids. that being said, it's understandable if parents aren't complete informed with the constant changing tech world. however that's no excues to cry wolf.

    and it's not the tech sector's job to shelter the most "morally justified" child/family. however, they can't ignore a concern factor. the preset/pre-open parent locks aren't much help. these comewith system passwords, and "should" be changed upon startup of the system. but these system passwords are usually given in the manual, so any kid could bypass them. so it takes 40 seconds longer to get to your game the first time. big whoop.... so you have instant access to the game first time...big whoop. just change it to the settings.

    with this being said, it's not 100% up to one side. i will claim that parents should hold most of the burden of protecting their children, however the tech companies can't be ignorant of the fact either. (i will guess that most companies aren't ignorant, it's just that they make their "protection" limited as to not upset their major audience/demographic)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2007 @ 11:27am

    the wii is tallored more to kids than other platforms, so the average age of 33 doesn't quite apply as much.

    if you look at the titles that nintendo has for their system compared to others, there is probably twice as many G rated games than first person shooters. so i do think that nintendo has a little more responsibility to take their audience into consideration when creating parental controls/filters than the 360 or PS3.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    stargate, 10 Jan 2007 @ 4:07pm

    hmm, what a new idea!!!

    You know, I don't think I have heard anyone talk about how you can get porn delievered to your cellphone. I mean you pay $1.99 a day and they send you a porn pic, and I know kids that do it. I guess we need to take away boys cellphones as well as their wii's (interpret that as you wish). If you don't want kids to view porn, you can

    1.) Prevent them from going into puberty by having their pituitary gland removed (only they then have hormonial problems and are screwed up for the rest of their life)

    2.) Put electrodes in their pants (around their wii) and hook it up to a computer which is hooked up to their brain. Every time they get aroused (which you can tell by scanning a certain area of the brain) it shocks the hell out of it

    3.) Cut it off (your child will hate you for the rest of his life though)

    4.) Be a good parent and talk to your kids, and install something that allows you to monitor what they look at online. It also helps to have the computer and their wii in a very visible spot. You can also limit when their internet connection is active (in the router) so it is only on when you are home or when you want it to be on. (the only problem is that your neighbors will probably have an un-protected wireless network which your child can use)


    Oh yeah, to whoever posted the internet is for porn song, from Avenue Q, that animation dose it no justice, you have to see the show (The song used to be on youtube, but you know they pulled it down...)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Jan 2007 @ 9:13pm

    nintendo probalby used a block which limits to a siungle domain, which can easily be done with most firewall software by only allowing acces to a whitelist and putting one site on it, for thier parental controls.

    In IE6, you cna prevent access to aunrated sites: this assumes that sites will rate themselves appropriately. THe crooks running*.da.ru are unlikely to care about lying about the rating. (sorry to denigrate all russian comercial websites, but I would be prepard to bet that every site which is primarily in english in the entirre domain is porn, gambling, or what the *AAs call piracy, and mostly the first)

    SInce before the IE 4 Quick Course book, which I found lying around once and flicked through, there have been warnings (amusingly put, they seem to be trying to be chld-friendly themselves) about web content. THat was ten years ago.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 11 Jan 2007 @ 9:27am

    Blocking

    You can block *.ru

    How many .ru sites does your kid need to see?

    You can block everything except *.edu if you want.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MM, 11 Jan 2007 @ 10:40am

    What horrible reporting! That article quotes a "child" as saying on a "blog" "the first thing I thought of when I downloaded the Wii browser was also porn." Maybe the writer assumed that the commentor was a child, but no, the reporter knew what he/she was doing: because he took out the first part of the sentence: "Like any red blooded American male ages 18-45"

    That's no child.

    Look at http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/wii-porn/potential-pun-overload-as-web-porn-sizes-up-to-nintendos-wii-2 25582.php

    for the original quote. Let's write to the editor-in-chief and get this person reprimanded for completely distoring information to fit a story.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Buzz, 24 Jan 2007 @ 9:22am

    I second the motion!

    Lazy parents are indeed a big part of this problem. Considering the Wii is on TV (usually a bigger screen than a computer monitor and usually in a main room), you'd think it'd be EASIER to monitor than a computer. Guess not! XD

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    C-Biscuit, 30 Jan 2007 @ 9:06am

    HAH

    Idiots, you do know that the Wii has partental settings.

    This is no more different than having your compuetr online 24/7 in your own houshold.

    Kids can still access porn without a damn wii. Don't blame the system, blame the parents stupid enough to let thier kdis browse the internet when they are not home.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Matthew N., 27 Feb 2007 @ 3:04pm

    Awesome.

    "The story author seems outraged that porn sites are adapting their content for better viewing on the Wii -- because it's apparently bad to cater to the millions of adults who have a taste for both porn and Zelda. Lazy parents tend to use game consoles as babysitters, so it's probably a real downer they'll now be forced to actually understand the technology they're giving their children."



    Thank you, sweet jesus.



    And here's some other thoughts, you've no doubt, met someone who knows what the hell he's doing around a PC, you could allways hire a friend to come in and batton down the hatches. PC techs arn't exactly hard to find now days and most of them know thier way around a low level router, and some cheap parental controls.



    This way you can continue to leave the console as a baby sitter and you STILL don't have to learn anything. Glorious!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    joe snuffy, 21 Apr 2007 @ 3:30pm

    Memories

    I'll never forget the day my dad asked me how to bypass his parental controls so he could view porn on the PC.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    steve, 5 Oct 2009 @ 11:43pm

    wii porn

    Hello. I just finished making the high score on WII bass fishing. That means I'm now a WII MasterBaiter!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Dec 2009 @ 11:11pm

    I just got done doing that

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    boomboombang, 14 Jan 2010 @ 7:44pm

    ok

    so what if ur child is looking at porn their gonna find out about it sooner or later and do u think that wii thought this was gonna happen i mean they have been saying they want it to be family friendly and even if they thought this was gonna happen do u think they would have the time to find every porn site on the web plus keep updating it constantly to block the new porn sites

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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