Parental Controls May Drive Linux Installations
Microsoft Windows Vista developers are trying to play parents to millions of teenagers and children. Lazy parents across the world have refused to learn as much about personal computers as their children, including requesting help from the youths when the adult becomes stuck. Microsoft believes adding parental controls to their OS will help parents who are concerned about their teenagers getting into places they do not belong.
Sadly, this is the wrong approach. Parents should be parents. Microsoft should be the developers of an OS that is stable and full of features. The two should not mix company.
Most likely unattended teenagers will learn to overcome the parental controls. For example, Microsoft Windows Vista will allow the administrator to shut off certain software at certain times, ie shutting off instant message after 7 pm. However, one teenager immediately said she would go into the BIOS and change the system time. Another teen explained she would just change instant messengers – that the parents did not know was installed.
Another scenario that should concern Microsoft is the proliferation of Linux. For example, one teen when told about the Parental Controls immediately explained she would pop in a Linux distribution and be done with Microsoft. Another wondered if she could overcome the administrator password (through Linux), reset the system, and be allowed the freedom she deserves. Another teenager talked about using their own external hard drive and booting off it – without their parents’ knowledge. One teenager barked, “If my parents do not trust me then they should sit next to me and not try to control me from a distance.”
Will angry teens across the world scrub out Windows Vista? This is one question Microsoft may face if they continue their attempt to control teenagers. After all, teenagers usually figure out a way to outsmart parents — isn’t this why adults turn to teenagers for advice about computers? Therefore, the best approach to computer control is to sit next to the teen and not rely on computer software.