Internet censorship facts for kids
Internet censorship is when people or governments try to control what information you can find or share on the internet. It's like someone blocking certain TV channels or books, but for websites and online content. This can mean blocking entire websites, or just parts of them. Sometimes, search engines like Google might change their results so that certain information is harder to find.
As more and more people use the internet for important things like learning, communicating, and shopping, there's also more online censorship. The ways people try to censor the internet are becoming more advanced. Why, how much, and how well internet censorship works can be very different from one country to another. Countries that often filter the internet are mainly found in East Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.
Contents
What is Internet Censorship?
Internet censorship is a type of censorship that happens specifically on the internet. It means that certain information, websites, or online services are blocked or restricted. This can be done by governments, companies, or even schools and libraries. The goal is often to control what people can access or say online.
Why Does Internet Censorship Happen?
There are many reasons why internet censorship might happen. Governments might block websites to control political discussions or to prevent people from seeing content they consider harmful or illegal. Sometimes, censorship is used to protect children from inappropriate content. Companies might also censor content on their platforms to follow laws or their own rules. For example, a social media site might remove posts that are hateful or promote violence.
Where Does Internet Censorship Happen?
Internet censorship happens in many places around the world. Some countries have very strict rules about what their citizens can see online. They use special technology to block websites or filter information. Other countries have less censorship, but still might block certain types of content. The map above shows how different countries deal with internet censorship.
Related pages
Images for kids
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This picture shows a program called Websense blocking Facebook. This happens when an organization sets up the program to block websites in a category like "Personals and Dating."
See also
In Spanish: Censura en Internet para niños
