Adult content

A potential new solution to ending accidental Internet pornography encounters and protecting children from adult content is starting to show promise with the possible implementation of the new domain.

In June, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which oversees domain names such as .com, .edu, .org and .gov, approved the concept of a .xxx top-level domain for pornography. This domain will be run by the for-profit ICM Registry, which, according to an Aug. 16 BBC News article, was created specifically to lobby for the .xxx domain.

According to the same article, the ICM Registry wants to create the domain to "help protect children from exposure to online pornography and also have a positive impact on online adult entertainment through voluntary efforts of the industry."

The .xxx domain was on its way to coming into existence when, according to a Sept. 17 CNETNews.com article, on Sept. 16 ICAAN's board of directors indefinitely delayed the creation of the domain under pressure from the President George W. Bush's administration and conservative interest groups.

This page believes that the creation of a .xxx domain is a positive step for the Internet as an entity and should be implemented as soon as possible.

Though conservatives are worried about the creation of an online red light district, this page believes that, with the creation of a law requiring all pornographic Web sites to have .xxx domain names, the domain would actually isolate adult content from children.

Much like a real-life red light district, parents will be able to keep their children away from pornographic sites and software can be created to filter all .xxx domain names.

Having a centralized domain name will also benefit the adult industry without infringing on free speech rights. People who want access to adult Web sites will be able to locate them more easily and traffic for adult sites will likely increase.

Conservatives and religious organizations who are against the domain are missing the point of creating it. Removing pornography from the Internet is a task that could never be accomplished. Setting aside a centralized location for pornography, one that can easily be avoided by those who are not interested, is the best possible way to avert one's eyes and keep children innocent a little bit longer.