Wii used as 'porn gateway', hilarity ensues
Did you know that your child could be using their toy console to download pornography? This is the terrifyingly serious question posed and placed under investigation by a crack (snorting) team of reporters at The trail of malicious crumbs leads her to conclude that the console's entirely unique ability to access the internet makes it easy for kids to download sexually explicit shenanigans. Indeed, merely clicking the inactive "News Channel" launches open a Pandora's box of scantily-clad women. Rather than providing a helpful explanation as to how to activate the Wii's parental controls, Slater attempts to contain and study the lurking smut.
She says "young kids get it," quoting one blogging "child" as saying "The first thing I thought of when I downloaded the Wii browser was also porn." Only the full quote, which is displayed on-screen, reads "Like any red blooded American male ages 18-45, the first thing I thought of when I downloaded the Wii browser was also porn." Quoting out of context? "It's gross, it's sick."
As if blowing into a flute while standing on a pile of festering garbage, the piece ends on a high note -- the consternated and defenseless mother accuses the industry of "tricking kids into learning too much, too fast" and expresses concern about people "trying to invade a fun game like the Wii." To make matters even worse, Slater completely fails to capitalize on the most obvious joke in the universe -- porn sites are "being configured to fit the Wii."
Perhaps she might further "investigate" the console's internet connectivity and download a clue.
Read -- Game console can be porn gateway
Watch -- Playing with Porn
[Thanks, Zertoss. Also, you're a sick man for that image, Ross Miller.]
Previously:
Joystiq corrupts youth with PSP porn film -- film at 11
Fox "investigates" PSP porn
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fuzz @ Jan 11th 2007 9:03PM
What the hell is wrong with porn, anyway? Jeez, its not like there using it to visit ogrish. Its porn. Get over it.
Mike @ Jan 11th 2007 9:04PM
LOL, thats my local news station.
HAHAHAHAHA.
havaloc @ Jan 11th 2007 9:05PM
I'm concerned that Nintendo might feel compelled to cancel the browser project because of this.
Rob Accomando @ Jan 11th 2007 9:09PM
Didn't they realize from the point Opera was announced for the Wii, that it would be possible to access just about any web site?
They are just realizing this NOW?
Ignatius @ Jan 11th 2007 9:09PM
Yes, a child can download the Wii Internet Browser, log onto it by connecting their router and learning the 26 hex digits normally for 128-bit encryption for wireless routers, input them after bypassing the parental controls on the Internet access, then log on, and actively search for pornography.
Yep, a child can do that. Just like a child can grab an Action Replay device, grab an old copy of GTA:SA and enter hundred-line codes to look at pixelated porn.
moominsean @ Jan 11th 2007 9:09PM
i love that they get their 'news' about the wii capabilities from internet forums. who the hell is in charge at that station?
NeverSage @ Jan 11th 2007 9:10PM
Ugh. I can't wait until the nintendo generation is old enough to be running the show. I'd like to think we'd be smart enough to see that this sort of thing is ridiculous.
Peter Davis @ Jan 11th 2007 9:15PM
fuck. my kids are never playing the wii again. im sorry, but im just too incompetant as a parent to allow nintendo to distribute porn.
ffs
rjm72 @ Jan 11th 2007 9:19PM
If they aren't happy with the filter controls, then simply don't let the kids use the Wii's browser. Have them use the computer where the proper filters are in place. Why do parents have to always have to have major corporations do their parenting for them. It shouldn't be the companies responsibility to watch what the kid views, it is the parents. It is not like Nintendo is forcing little children to go to porn sites.
syco @ Jan 11th 2007 9:21PM
Most porn is immoral. Actually, there's a lot of immoral things on the internet. It's like seeing a murder outside your house, and subsequently claiming the company that manufactured your window responsible.
B @ Jan 11th 2007 9:24PM
Hilarity ensues.
Stupid liberal media...
elle @ Jan 11th 2007 9:32PM
FTFA:
"But these machines __aren't just hot among kids__; __they're also compatible with sexually-oriented Web sites__."
Not all Wiis are being bought and used by kids. Not all sites are compatible with the Wii.
"Not only can your child access pornography along with __WarioWare and Guitar Hero__; the porn industry is advertising to target those toys."
WarioWare isn't out yet. Guitar Hero doesn't completely work on the PS3 because of controller issues. The Wii browser can be deleted or disabled, preventing access.
"But because the Wii, the PS3 and __other game consoles__ have Internet access, it's easy for kids to access porn."
The 360 does not have a Web browser and does not offer any other way to view porn. The only other console with a browser is the discontinued Dreamcast.
"__Other parents__, however, complain that Nintendo's scheme is unsatisfactory, and that the __Wii browser lacks a "cyber-nanny" or filtering function__."
These other parents are invented or unquoted; mentioning this is unfounded and journalistically unethical. The Wii browser can be deleted, and parental access controls can prevent any access to the browser. The full Opera browser, more than likely, will share at least some of the same content control features of the full PC Opera browser. Browser access can also be controlled at the router level in most instances, most of them accessible by anyone who can read English and has the router manual.
LeE MaHi @ Jan 11th 2007 9:34PM
id hate to be the kids of that mom. she had to be on her rag. no doubt. but more seriously...what someone above me stated, dont let the kids use the browser. use the good ol' fashion computer.
and that mom....shes got something up her ass, porn isnt all that bad, i bet she does all that kinky stuff with her husband. then she had 2 little girls.
Brett @ Jan 11th 2007 9:34PM
So let them look at porn. They need to learn this stuff.
rokobungi @ Jan 11th 2007 9:35PM
OH NOOO now nintendo will have a 10 second disclaimer screen before the browser loads implemented in the next update.
Pete @ Jan 11th 2007 9:39PM
Your comments: Haha wow. i love how instantly, INSTANTLY, after opening up their web browser, they show porn. maybe they're hoping all the retarted people
will think that just by clicking on the news browser you get porn.
magical porn gettaway?and what 6 year old kid is going to use the Wii to look for porn? heck i would figure if someone actually wanted porn they'd use a computer like most people would.
huh? @ Jan 11th 2007 9:39PM
a love that the caption under the picture of the wii (first link) says "sex machine"
ch0rx @ Jan 11th 2007 9:42PM
THERES PORN IN THE INTERNETS!!!!!!! WE MUST STOP THIS AT ONCE!
Zertoss @ Jan 11th 2007 9:42PM
I knew Joystiq would love this story when I read it.
And lets not forget that the Wii magically pulls porn from the air, just like the PSP! 802.11 is nerd code for "magic porn."
driven2sin @ Jan 11th 2007 9:44PM
my kid used porn on the Wiinets and now I find em with the control stick up his butthole
elle @ Jan 11th 2007 9:45PM
http://www.bottomlinecom.com/shelly_slater1.htm
Slater: A Rising Star in a Falling Ship
By ED BARK
The Dallas Morning News
Sparkling News 8 (ABC) newcomer Shelly Slater, newly plucked from Fox-owned WDAF-TV in Kansas City, clearly is on a fast track to the top of the Dallas station's anchor hierarchy. No longer dominant at 10 p.m. or anywhere else, the Belo-owned station sorely needs a rising star with charm, smarts and sex appeal. **In short, a beaming babe with brains.** Sorry if that sounds sexist, but you can bet that station management is sold on exactly that combination.
...
Stations whose newscasts prosper with advertiser-coveted 25-to-54-year-olds are making the cash hauls these days. Belo8 isn't exactly a bullet on those charts, but that's where young gun Slater can help.
Prediction: By this time next fall, Shelly Slater will be a full-fledged player on one or more of Belo8's major weeknight newscasts. Not to put any undue pressure on her, but that's exactly why she was hired.
elle @ Jan 11th 2007 9:45PM
E-mail Shelly at sslater@wfaa.com
On the page with the Wii story is a link to a story that tells you in what issue of Playboy you can find a naked Air Force staff sergeant.
Jason @ Jan 11th 2007 9:49PM
i think because this person had to write an article about kids getting porn on the wii is gonna, like ruin nintendo. also, is this person not let their kids use the computer, for fear they will access porn. also, this person assumes if a child gets in the possesion of the wii browser, they will use it for porn.
James @ Jan 11th 2007 9:51PM
I love the references they have researched:
"But other parents(lol) say it's not enough:"
-Then you can see what they're quoting-
"Oh yes Nintendo adds stupid friendcode for online gaming and better protection of players, but can't even put better parental controls! You fail us Nintendo!!!!!!!eleven11111!!!"
It's like someone went into the future saw this news story and was commenting on it
Brodalco @ Jan 11th 2007 9:55PM
This is my local news station... Typical scare tactics.
Apparently, WFAA could not get the Wii-Browser working. Occasionally, the camera would shake a little, and you could clearly see some Internet Explorer 6 Icons above the porn sites.
Kema @ Jan 11th 2007 9:56PM
What I really find amusing is that while reading the text copy of WTAA's story, I was presented with a banner ad for another one of those gruesome 'Bodies' exhibits. You know the ones, where corpses are stripped down and posed in whimsical stances to show anatomy? The exhibits where the corpses come from China and are TOTALLY obtained through non-questionable means?
Yeah, if it'll bring in money, it doesn't matter how stupid (the article) or questionable (the exhibit) or hypocritical (WTAA acting as a moral paragon) it is.
jchensor @ Jan 11th 2007 10:00PM
Neversage said: "Ugh. I can't wait until the nintendo generation is old enough to be running the show. I'd like to think we'd be smart enough to see that this sort of thing is ridiculous."
Yup. By then, our generation as adults won't be dumb enough to believe video games are destroying our youth. What we WILL have to be concerned about, though are those new-fangled Virtual Reality Center boxes, which allows our kids to have sex at the press of a button!!!
Brodalco @ Jan 11th 2007 10:01PM
I wrote an e-mail to the reporter who did this.
Dear Mrs. Slater,
I cannot express my disappointment in your use of simple scare tactics you used to frighten parents into watching your show. A blatant lack of responsible journalism has taken place in Dallas-Fort Worth tonight, and your station has become the laughing stock of anyone who knows how to use a computer, or for that matter, anyone who can use a Wii.
Perhaps your team should cover an even GREATER danger to our children. Like PCs! Because apparently your team was not smart enough to get the Wii they used to connect to the web, and they just took pictures from porn sites on a PC. (Something they apparently very adept at doing.) I shit you not. You could clearly see some icons from Internet Explorer 6 in the frame. And, from what I saw, the Wii the children were playing with wasn't even connected to the internet. It's also worth mentioning that if any Channel, the Wii News channel does not bring up "NaughtyZoo.com" or "HotVixensWithBananas", or whatever the hell it was you were showing. Wii News delivers simple text headlines, or at least it will, because at the time it isn't even functioning yet. If we were to use the same logic with WFAA, every time you went on air to deliver a headline, you would immideatly start stripping, jumping up and down, and rubbing your breasts in poor children's unsuspecting faces. And everybody would be watching this, even though the camera wasn't rolling.
This station is quickly on it's way to becoming a national laughingstock in the gamer/techie communitiy. I imagine anyone who knows how a computer works will be less than impressed with your half-baked conclusions.
Don't make me ashamed to be a Texan.
Sincerely,
A Citizen Concerned about Overly Concerned Citizens (And the news stations who exploit them.)
Conservative Lord Xenu @ Jan 11th 2007 10:05PM
Oh shit. They're depicting the process of human reproduction on a world-wide computer network! God forbid anyone knowing about that! Dirty sinners! Down with science!
Here's hoping these people's kids never find out about sex and stop reproducing so that Darwin can finally be at peace.
syco @ Jan 11th 2007 10:22PM
Xenu... Kinda like the german couple that got very confused why they couldn't have children... come to find out it was because they thought that all that was needed to have kids was to lie in bed and hold hands...
raycosm @ Jan 11th 2007 11:03PM
Thanks for the warning!
samred @ Jan 11th 2007 11:12PM
I wrote a letter to one of the Dallas area's more prominent media critics, and I hope he reposts it...if not, here 'tis:
On January 8, WFAA-8 aired a short sensationalist report from Shelly Slater about the link between hot video games this Christmas season and pornography (video: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=112514&catId=104).
The gist of the piece--images of pornography flash above footage of two little girls playing the "Wii Bowling" video game for Nintendo's new Wii home gaming system, and Slater uses some shaky reporting to imply that porn pretty much comes automatically with innocent game systems. Rather than back any of her declarations up with sources or facts, or even contact the respective game makers for a response, Slater only allows one suburban parent to repeatedly speak as the representative shocked "everymother."
More than a few nitpicks on the report: At about 1 minute in, WFAA declares that porn sites are configured to run on the Wii (without giving an example of one), yet the screen shows a normal home computer loading a porn site through Internet Explorer...if you're going to damn a device, at least use that device, WFAA. Slater also reads off typo-ridden complaints from an Internet message board (omitting the "leet" speak and typos in the quote, which might actually prove that the quote was in fact sarcastic) to decry the system's parental controls, but never goes so far as to explain the step-by-step process needed to get online with the Nintendo system.
As it turns out, Slater's report isn't just sensationalist; it's factually incorrect. The premise of the entire report is centered around the system's inability to keep kids away from the Internet, but the Wii comes pre-set with a parental restriction menu to prevent access to ALL online content (Internet, E-mail and more) through use of a 4-digit PIN number. Furthermore, the Internet functionality isn't even pre-loaded into the system; it requires a manual download from the system's online service, which is itself subject to the same PIN number. As long as the child does not install the system him/herself, there is no way a child can get past the system's parental control features.
It's one thing to stretch the truth to pad a slow news day's broadcast, but based on the facts, Slater comes damn near close to lying to present her version of the story. Does this sort of thing pop up repeatedly on WFAA broadcasts? I wouldn't know, but considering that the huge international electronics show CES began on the same day of that report (January 8), the station sure could've used those minutes of tech talk to discuss real news rather than make theirs up.
Holden Dapen0r @ Jan 11th 2007 11:15PM
"We need to keep them protected from people who want to invade a fun game like the Wii," Schroeder said.
Game?!?!?!?!?
GAME?!?!?!?!?
ITS A CONSOLE!!!!!
Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 12th 2007 12:33AM
Wait a minute....
Zeratoss, is that name by any chance from Starcraft?
Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 12th 2007 12:40AM
HAHAHA! All quotes are from Kotaku! A pro-gaming site! WOW. The irony here is immense.
Link:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/wii-porn/potential-pun-overload-as-web-porn-sizes-up-to-nintendos-wii-225582.php#c793886
Rubang B @ Jan 12th 2007 12:41AM
No, it's Zeratul, but he is a Protoss.
NeverSage @ Jan 12th 2007 12:55AM
That was a great letter samred. Let us know if the critic reposts it.
Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 12th 2007 1:06AM
#37 "No, it's Zeratul, but he is a Protoss."
Ok, thanks, I thought so. It's been so long. *COUGH* *COUGH* *I'MLOOKINGATYOUBLIZZARD* *COUGH* *COUGH*
TMW @ Jan 12th 2007 1:09AM
Anyone see the irony in the fact that that the commercial shown before the video report was for "Pump It Up"?
Sly @ Jan 12th 2007 2:00AM
Yes the Wiimote has rumble effect.
Max @ Jan 12th 2007 2:08AM
Funniest video on the internets, bar none.
Rowd149 @ Jan 12th 2007 2:21AM
I snorted while laughing out loud to this. Good think I'm not in my basement, or I'd REALLY be a loser :P jk
brandon @ Jan 12th 2007 3:02AM
http://mediaaccess.dallasnews.com/contacts/wfaa.html
You can use that URL to get the email address of the news director, Michael Valentine, and send him email with what you thought of the Wii-Porn news segment. Frankly, I'm angry and disgusted that such amateurish reporting is allowed on an ABC affiliate, and I'm letting him know.
http://mediaaccess.dallasnews.com/contacts/wfaa.html
http://mediaaccess.dallasnews.com/contacts/wfaa.html
itsbrandon @ Jan 12th 2007 3:02AM
I, too, have written a letter to the WFAA people, and I've posted a copy on my blog. Here's a little bit of the letter, the full letter is at: http://itsbrandon.livejournal.com/247322.html
And while we're on the subject, did you ever attempt to get comment from Nintendo or Sony or ANYONE other than a mother with a few little girls playing Wii Sports in the background? How about CNet? 1UP.com? Joystiq.com? G4TV? No?? And yet somehow you felt your "report" (one mother, and a few random and anonymous internet message board posts that you quoted OUT OF CONTEXT) covered the whole issue well enough to broadcast it?
Welcome to Amateur Hour on WFAA. You guys must REALLY be hurting for ratings to air incompetent, UNPROFESSIONAL news segments such as "Game console can be porn gateway."
You have a responsibility to provide accurate, complete news stories to the people who tune into your news cast each night. These viewers may not get their news from any other source, and instead of having a trustworthy, reliable source, they get presented with half the facts. You don't report gossip. You don't sling mud. You don't quote internet message boards as your sources! This wasn't news. This was amateur bullshit. This was NOT professional journalism. This was pathetic news reporting, and EVERYONE involved should be ASHAMED of how inexcusably LOW the standards have become at WFAA.
And I end the letter with:
How about next time, instead of going out and doing any REAL news reporting (which is REALLY hard work!) you just stay at home and try not to make a MOCKERY out of the late night news? Okay? The rest of the human race thanks you and appreciates your cooperation!
amethystperspective@yahoo.com @ Jan 12th 2007 3:27AM
Defenestrator2.0, you just took gold and made it platinum!
I love sensationalist news. Half the time I rarely consider doing anything they report until they report it. It's like, "hey, it really does sound easy". I wonder how many kids who missed out on logic fired up the Wii after seeing this?
That mother is a bimbo. Turn of the damn router and then- oh, where did the Wii internets go? Did Jesus smote the offender?
Judd @ Jan 12th 2007 3:52AM
What's really funny and at the same time upsetting, is if you click the link to see the video, look at the other clips to the left. There is a story about how people are feeding their daughters organic food to offset puberty. If you watch the video, it's as bad as it sounds.
Obviously, WFAA is trying to appeal to a certain demographic, so in a sense I don't really blame them. But I blame their audience. Moms.
These overprotective moms who think that anything their child might see that's bad content will scar them for life. Oh my god, a naked body. That's horrible. These fucking parents who feel like they are looking out for their kids, are actually the ones who are helping them out the least.
Like in the story about the parents trying to offset female puberty. As if it's such a bad thing for people to go through puberty, and somehow just because they are her parents they have a right to stop this from happening.
"You want them to stay young as long as possible, because you only have your innocence for so long, and then for the rest of your life you're an adult."
Fuck you, if you appreciate your kids so much, let them make the decision for themselves. There's this concept in America that if someone isn't 18 they can't make a conscious decision by themselves. Even if it wasn't sensationalist reporting that kids can just "access" porn sites on the Wii, and that girls can reach puberty too quickly, so what? Is sex that bad of a thing? In fact the actual nature of hiding sexuality from one's own kid is hypocritical. Sex is what made that child exist, and yet is somehow sinful.
Mephistopheles @ Jan 12th 2007 5:10AM
In other words; internet capable device can access internet content. I'd certainly hope that it would. Porn is on the internet and can be accessed by any device capable of browsing the internet. This isn't Nintendo selling Wiis with browsers defaulted to a porn site or something. You can block/disable the browser or disconnect the device from the internet.
I can't help but laugh at people who would be concerned about children accessing porn on their Wii yet do not have any filtering on their computer.
DeeMan @ Jan 12th 2007 6:08AM
Even better - there isn't even a way to randomly 'browse' to a website on the wii - so unless the kids get online, go to Google, and type in "MONSTER COCK ACTION" using the on-screen keyboard, they're not going to get within cooee of porn.
And i'm guessing if they know to search for "XXX JUGS GALORE", then you're probably a bit late on the whole "keeping them innocent" thing.
US media FTL.
Zertoss @ Jan 12th 2007 9:06AM
What the hell is a "Starcraft?" :P
boywundr @ Jan 12th 2007 9:30AM
I agree with most of the comments here about the lack proper reporting, blaming someone else for your lack of parenting skills, etc. It's not anyone's responsibility to watch their kids and what they are doing/finding but the parents. That being said, anyone here who is so up in arms about "whats the big deal if a kid sees naked people" has a serious misunderstanding of what it can do to a child mentally. I know I don't want my kids to check out porn at 6, drink at 8, smoke at 9... there's a reason their are set ages as "dumb" as they seem. That being said, I won't promote sex as being dirty, evil or bad to my kids, but at the same time I won't let them run loose and "explore" by any means they want.