It’s summertime,
which means more free time for kids to play with their smart phones, tablets and
other electronic gadgets.
Secretary of State
Ruth Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop want parents to know that there is an
effective way to keep kids safe from adult-oriented online ads, even during
those times when mom and dad can’t be present to supervise their child’s online
activities.
It’s called the Michigan Child Protection Registry and Johnson and Bishop held a news conference June 20 at the media center of Clarkston’s Renaissance High School to promote this valuable resource. The registry is a free and secure program housed on the Secretary of State website that families and schools can use to block adult-oriented ads for products like alcohol, tobacco, pornography and online gambling from reaching their children’s email inboxes, tablets, cell phones or instant messenger IDs.
“As much as we’d all like to, it is not possible to watch a child every minute of the day,” said Johnson, who has a teenage daughter. “It can be a struggle just to keep up with the new social media sites and online games our kids use. The ‘Protect MiChild’ website offers parents and caregivers a secure and simple way to put some controls in place regarding the Internet content their children see.”
Concerned parents or schools may register the electronic addresses for any devices children use at ProtectMiChild.com. The registry will block adult Internet ads for all registered contact points (such as an email address, smart phone number or instant messenger ID) for three years or until the youngest child with access to the contact point reaches the age of 18.
Once the information has been entered into the registry, companies that send messages that advertise or link to prohibited products or services are required to remove the registered contact email, phone number or IM within 30 days from their mailing lists. Protect MiChild registrations may be renewed at any time for an additional three-year period.
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Don't be fooled by non-SOS websites
Don't be fooled by misleading websites that suggest an affiliation with the Michigan Secretary of State or "DMV" and offer transactions such as renewing your plate or driver's license. Make sure you visit a Michigan.gov website when using online services with the Secretary of State.
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