If parents are worried about what is out there and who is out there on the internet SUPERVISE YOUR CHILDREN (or at least install some parental controls)

Just as we don't allow children to buy pornography or watch unsuitable films, we shouldn't allow them to view unsuitable things on the internet.

The internet and the government are not babysitters, and I personally feel more parents need to realise this.

Claire H, Merseyside,

We apparently value freedom so highly we'll wage war for it, yet now we want censoreship? Wake up and smell the roses - sure they've got thorns, but if you're allowed to actually touch them you'll soon realise they hurt! Teach kids about the thorns, but don't prevent us all from experiencing the beauty of this free world.

Colin Brown, Kendal, UK

Put a pint of cider a day, free ,courtesy of The National Health Service and we would all look at each other through rose tinted glasses........
An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

Ian Swift, Chepstow, Monmouhshire

This is crazy!

The Internet is a wide open place where politicans can be criticised (or researched), sex can be discussed (or, I am assured, even bought) and drugs can be explained, promoted, and even procured.

Speaking as a 46 year old adult male - that is EXACTLY how it should be. Most importantly, the freedom and lack of structured censorship is a cutting-edge way of keeping our political representatives honest, creating a media unfettered by quiet deals and even quieter D-notices.

As for kids, and speaking personally as a father of three, what the HELL is any parent doing letting them play in this arena unsupervised? The Internet, and specifically the Web, was NEVER designed with children as the target audience. If some stupid, ignorant, lazy, uncaring parents use the Internet as a cheap means of childcare, that reflects on them, not on a valuable forum for information key to our freedom.

Parents, find a playground. Take your children there!

Mike Hart, London, UK

“Many parents seem to believe that when their child is online it is similar to them watching television. In fact it is more like opening the front door and letting your child go outside to play unsupervised.”

What's wrong with children playing "unsupervised"? Where on earth does Mrs Byron live? The jungle?

John, london,

However well intentioned, censoring the internet is an intractable task. Teaching web users how to use the internet will be time much better spent. The same as school tells kids not to get in strangers cars, they should be told never to assume an online person / web page is who they say they are / says it is.

barry, bristol, uk

In the real world the UK government has no control over what happens on the Internet (bit like inflation and banking).

If you don't like whats on the Internet then go and watch tv or go outside and play instead.

Leave all the lovely naughty stuff to us adults.

Aden Brill, Hereford, UK

If a child molester has a society-permitted switch that makes them invisible to parents while they talk to a child outdoors, is it a)the parents' fault if they are attacked, for allowing them outside, or b) society's fault for allowing the switch?
Sorry, just not convinced by the 'no censorship' brigade.

Nick, Nottingham,

Think of the children!

I blame the parents!

I love Big Bother (surely 'Brother'?)

Thomas Ogilvie, Edinburgh, UK

“Many parents seem to believe that when their child is online it is similar to them watching television. In fact it is more like opening the front door and letting your child go outside to play unsupervised.”

No Dr Byron, that is complete and utter rubbish and you know it is. Letting your kids surf on the internet unsupervised is like letting them outside unsupervised, but then what kind of parent allows their children to surf the web unsupervised?

If you do then you really should be directing drivel like this at yourself and not at those members of society that are perfectly capable of raising a child without the "help" from you or the Government.

The Internet is for all ages and all walks of life, we already know the internet is not suitable for children to be left alone and unsupervised online - but that does not mean to say that we should remove content from the internet that is not child friendly. It is your job to protect your children, not mine!

GM, Brisbane,

Watch out, or the thought police will come knocking at your door.

Arthur, Newcastle,

The providers of these so called 'social' sites that show criminal activity - possession of firearms, 'happy slapping' etc should have a legal obligation to report the origin of the material to the police. There shouldn't be a need for a complaint to be received first.

If they fail to do so, they should be shut down.

Mark, London, UK

Under the veil of 'protecting children', Tanya Byron argues in favour of censorship but then adds: "Those that promote self-harm and eating disorders should also come under greater legal scrutiny". "Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, said that he accepted all of Dr Byron’s recommendations and would “take them forward”.
This is a serious threat to free speech and informed debate. -If you disagree with the 'consensus of govt experts' on whatever subject, you will find you will be unable to express those views and any amount of govt propaganda or lies can be normalised without challenge.
Take the govts views on second hand smoke; The evidence is clear that SHS is less harmful than drinking whole milk yet they accept ASH 's false claim that thousands die as a result of it. At present this can be and is challenged, albeit ignored, but when smoking is classed as 'self harm' any challenge will be 'deleted'. It is not just about smoking neither, pick your subject, any subject!

winstonian, Darlington, UK