Impero representatives did not respond to numerous calls and emails seeking comment on ContentKeeper for this article.
According to Joshua Mukai, vice president of marketing at Securly, the “Sexual Content” category is designed to help schools avoid overblocking of websites related to reproductive health or sexual orientation by allowing them to create policies that permit sites discussing sexual topics for appropriate age groups. He declined to comment on the suggestion that blocking LGBTQ+ advocacy websites through the “sexual content” category is discriminatory.
Reproductive Health
Maya Perez, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas, who is the president of her high school’s Feminist Club, faces challenges in conducting research on her school computer. Despite creating presentations, accessing information for topics like healthcare disparities and abortion is often difficult due to blocked websites. She expressed frustration at the lack of accurate information available and resorted to using her phone to search for information and then typing it onto her computer, which she found inefficient. Perez expressed a wish for access to more news and informational websites.
Notable internet blocks in the Fort Worth Independent School District included search engines being blocked over 4,500 times, education websites over 3,800 times, and news websites 648 times. Planned Parenthood affiliates have had to negotiate with schools directly to unblock their website. Allison Macklin, former sex educator and current policy and advocacy director for SIECUS, shared how students had difficulty accessing information on plannedparenthood.org for additional resources.
Only 29 states and the District of Columbia mandate sex education, with Missouri not among them. Several school districts, including Rockwood and Wentzville in Missouri, have been identified as blocking sex education websites. The issue of blocked websites related to sex education is also prevalent in states like Florida, Utah, Texas, and South Carolina.
Students in Manatee County, Florida, and teachers in the district have faced issues accessing sex education websites and resources. The internet blockages in Manatee are extensive, limiting access to dictionary websites, Google Scholar, academic journals, and various news outlets.
The Breadth of the Internet
Students like Brooke O’Dell from Rockwood School District in Missouri often encounter blocked websites while doing homework. O’Dell shared her frustration at the restrictive web filtering and expressed the belief that technology should not interfere with the learning process.
Records from Forsyth County Schools in Georgia revealed blocks on YouTube videos, hindering research on topics like Pablo Picasso and various educational content. Across all the districts analyzed, games and social media were the most frequently blocked categories, while categories like “porn” or “nudity” ranked lower on the list of blocked sites.
Information from the School District of Manatee County indicated broad internet blocking, including educational resources and news outlets. The District’s Chief Technology Officer, Scott Hansen, highlighted the cautious approach to filtering content, prioritizing a safe environment for students.
While web filters are intended to keep students safe, concerns have been raised about the impact on learning and access to information. The American Library Association has advocated for a more nuanced approach to internet filtering in schools and libraries since the implementation of CIPA.
A Stubborn Status Quo
The American Library Association highlights the need for schools to adopt a more flexible approach to web filtering, ensuring access to diverse information. Schools have the power to determine what is inappropriate for students beyond the narrow requirements of CIPA.
Despite calls for less restrictive filtering policies, many districts continue to block websites and categories with limited federal oversight. Students and teachers have expressed challenges completing assignments due to web filters, raising concerns about censorship and access to information.
Efforts to address web censorship vary across different school districts, with some taking a more hands-off approach to filtering. Advocacy groups like Students Engaged in Advancing Texas are pushing for legislation to ensure open access to information on important topics like human trafficking and mental health.
Concerns about censorship and access to information continue to be a prominent issue in schools, with ongoing debates around internet filtering and content blocking practices.
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This story was produced by The Markup and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.
