The internet may become more restricted for LHS students — and not just from GoGuardian and other school-issued blockers. The U.S. government has proposed bills that would impose age restrictions on websites deemed inappropriate to minors, unless users provide a government-issued ID.
Even though systems like GoGuardian help students stop cheating, many censorship laws involving age verification may backfire.
“Predictably, users didn’t stop accessing adult content after the laws went into effect, they just changed how they got to it,” said the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit digital rights group. “As foretold, when platforms block access or require invasive verification, it drives people to sites that operate outside the law — platforms that often pose greater safety risks. Instead of protecting young people, these laws push them toward less secure, less regulated spaces.”
Teachers at LHS have mixed reactions.
“So in general, I’m not in favor of censorship because I think, in the past, control of information has often been used as a tool of oppression,” said social studies teacher Brittany Larson. “I don’t know that it’s the same discussion that we need to be having about social media and health technology.”
Another social studies teacher, Chenne Fox, expressed cautious support.
“Well, I think it’s got its heart in the right place… I think there should be guardrails for social media,” said Fox. “But I don’t know if what they’re currently proposing is going to be effective or if kids are just going to find a workaround.”
According to The Verge, online platform Discord is going to implement age verification for all users, making the basic account one deemed appropriate to teenagers in March unless government ID or facial scan is put in place.
