About Movie

While the internet can certainly be an incredible tool and resource, the unfortunate reality is that it can also be an extremely dangerous and destructive place for children, adults, and families. Not only can we easily find the violence, dangers, scams, temptations, and immorality - but individuals and companies everywhere are actively seeking us out.

What is more disturbing is the reality that individuals, parents, governments, and entire societies everywhere have so slowly become conditioned to and somewhat accepting of this selfish and immoral culture the internet daily preaches. Thus, while the moral values of our culture continue to degenerate, we must resolve today and ensure that our families (and us as individuals) will not fall victim to this ever-destructive force - a force that is masked by the wrongfully assumed 'popularity' of the masses, and the result is often the disintegration of marriages and families. Commitments and responsibilities are discarded, money is lost, information is stolen, time is wasted, guilt is felt, lives are ruined, and families are destroyed - all while a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit.

There are many things we can do online to be safe - things ranging from: not giving out personal or financial information to strangers, not clicking on unknown links, not opening emails from people we don't know, realizing that much of the information we read (or people we meet online) are not totally accurate (or real), to not copyright or plagiarize, etc. However, what I am referring to is much more important and potentially much more dangerous than any of the previously mentioned online safety tips. For our own sakes, and especially for the happiness and well-being of our families, we each need to make a commitment that in our homes we will implement these necessary online rules:

1) Don't Be Alone: The family computer must be in a public place - with the monitor facing out! Most of the trouble, temptation, scams, wasted time, and immorality happens when a child (or adult) is allowed to 'use the computer' on their own in a private place.

2) Parental Involvement: Parents must be more involved with their child's online activity. I am not talking about looking over the shoulder or being with them all the time - everyone of course still needs their privacy, agency, and freedom. However, do you know who your children are emailing, texting, chatting with, or talking to? Do you know what websites, chat rooms, pictures, and emails your child has sent, looked at, and visited? If you are involved and communicate with your children often about their online activity (in a constructive, not intrusive and disciplinary way) - you can guarantee that when that temptation comes, question or curiosity arises, or when they get asked to meet that online 'special' person (who is a complete stranger) - they will feel comfortable coming to you first because you were involved, informed, and cared.

3) Don't Be Ignorant, Don't Assume, Trust Less, Be Involved More: Familiarize yourself with online Teen Lingo. Do you even realize that there literally is an online language of incredibly complex acronyms your children use to talk with their friends? Why do they use such lingo? Of course, to hide and disclose from YOU what it is they are talking about. Educate yourself and do not be ignorant. Trust your children, but love them enough to be involved, active, and discipline if necessary.

4) Dangers of Evening Hours: No computer after 9pm. That is a rule in our house, and it may need to be different in your home. But, why such a rule? Obviously, it is the evening hours that we become idle, lazy, susceptible, bored, curious, etc. Others who are online know this reality as well - and those 'others' include individuals (known or not known), companies, advertisers, pop-up ads, websites, etc.

5) Turn-Away Immediately: Establish the rule and self-discipline that if ever an image (pop-up, advertisement, picture, website, etc) appears that is inappropriate, you will 'Turn-Away Immediately.' No matter how shocking the image, curious you are, weak you feel, alone you may be, or how strong you think you are - just look away immediately.

6) Establish Rules: Establish your own family online rules. Sit down together and establish these rules, and ensure that everyone is aware of and committed to them. Have the rules placed near the computer - and commit to following them always. Use this meeting as a time to educate your children about online safety, tips, traps, etc.

7) Be the example: The six previously mentioned rules are absolutely necessary for your children and family's sake; however, how can we expect our children to follow these rules if we ourselves are not adhering to them. Most often, children not only do what their parents allow them, but they do what they see their parents doing. Be the example in ensuring that the internet is used for positive, constructive, educational, and wholesome activities in your home!

Why are these rules so absolutely important? There are a number or reasons why, including financial safety and protection online, personal safety, etc. However, more important than anything else, this is about ensuring that we as adults and parents, and especially our children, do not become involved with our modern day slavery - that of pornography!

I wish it weren't true, but unfortunately for us all - sex, immorality, and immodesty sells. As a few greedy individuals and companies make a profit from this sleazy material, the realistic and sad result is that - thoughts are corrupted, commitments and responsibilities are discarded, selfishness and temporary gratification become more important than self control, sins and crimes are committed, addictions are developed, families are torn apart, and slowly our society's very foundational values have disintegrated.

Keeping thoughts clean, turning away from temptation, or altogether avoiding pornography is becoming increasingly more difficult considering the fact that - the vast majority of movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, advertisements, and websites are immoral, immodest, sexual, and pornographic in nature. We are daily bombarded... and thus daily fighting a battle. It is a battle to keep our thoughts, actions, habits, and character clean and pure and chaste.

Thus, establishing personal and family online rules is absolutely essential - essential for us personally to ensure that we do not fall victim to this modern slavery, and to ensure that our marriage, children, and families do not fall apart. The moment that pornography is allowed and justified, and these rules are discarded, is the first detrimental step to ensuring that our marriages and families will experience the pain, shame, embarrassment, anger, loss, separation, and failure that pornography's effects inevitable bring. For yours and your family's sake - do not look, do not get involved, and ensure these rules are implemented and exemplified.