Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is urging Michigan families to block electronic adult ads, messages and pornography from reaching children by joining the Michigan Child Protection Registry. Studies show an increasing number of young people are using Internet-based devices, with children as young as age two using tablets, mobile phones and computers.
Similar to the National Do Not Call Registry, the Michigan Child Protection Registry is a free and secure program that families can use to block adult-oriented ads for products like alcohol, tobacco, pornography, online gambling and illegal drugs from reaching their email inboxes, cell phones or instant messenger IDs.
Once a family has entered its information, companies that send messages that advertise or link to prohibited products or services are required to remove them from their mailing lists within 30 days.
Johnson, who has a teenage daughter, said the registry helps provide a frontline defense for parents on an ever-expanding electronic playing field.
"It's a struggle for parents to just keep up with the new social media sites and the online games our kids are using," she said. "But this registry is an easy and simple way to put some controls in place."
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Customers of the Detroit New Center SUPER!Center now can schedule appointments and get in line from a home computer, with a phone call or via text message, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced this week.
The office at 3046 W. Grand Blvd. is the third in the state to offer the innovative customer-service technology. In the project, 10 of the busiest Secretary of State offices will feature MI-TIME Line to reduce lines and give customers greater convenience.
MI-TIME Line will call or send a text message when the customer is about to be called to the counter, allowing them to avoid waiting in the office lobby. Customers who don't have a mobile phone can stop by the office, check in at a special kiosk and head out of the office to run errands while they wait.
"As customers, your time is important and MI-TIME Line will revolutionize your visit to the Secretary of State's Office," Johnson said. "Get in line online and arrive at the office just before you are about to be called. In the meantime, you can go shopping, run errands or whatever you want to do. We'll let you know when your turn is coming up."
To get in line at the Detroit New Center office from anywhere, customers may call 313-879-0433 or text "detroitnewcentersos" to 313-486-5220.
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