Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

An opt-in[1] filter isn't a solution, it's a snake oil pill that has no effects whatsoever on trivial access to pornography anyways.

It will hamper a stressed kid trying to go to the local youth NGO's site with info on condoms (a true example blocked by one of the UK filters). It won't hamper a horny teenager trying to look for porn, he'll find it rapidly anyway and tell his peers how to do it.

In short, these web filters are a worse solution than simply doing nothing. You're accepting a tradeoff of real harm for imaginary, nonexistant benefits.

[1] By the way, isn't the implementation on-by-default, making it an opt-out filter instead of opt-in?



Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: