The Internet has become one of the most widely used communication media. It is simple to set up a website and publish any kind of data. The problem is therefore no longer to find the information but to assess the credibility of the publisher, as well as the relevance and accuracy of a document retrieved from the net.
In many cases, the website provides no appropriate documentation regarding the scientific design of a medical study, nor are studies made available that support given claims.
To help unify and standardize the reliability of medical and health information available on the net, the Health On the Net Foundation elaborated the Code of Conduct for medical and health Web sites (HONcode).
The HONcode doesn't intend to rate the quality or the information provided by a website. It only defines a set of rules designed to make sure the reader always knows the source and the purpose of the data he's reading.
Family Friendly Site
The Virtuosity.com Family Friendly Site program is designed to indicate sites that are suitable for family viewing. I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example, Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
SafeSurf Rated All Ages
The SafeSurf program is designed to indicate sites that are suitable for family viewing. I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example, Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
This Site Labeled With ICRA
This site originally rated with RSACi, the Recreational Software Advisory Council on the internet. RSAC was formally folded into the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) in Spring 1999. The new ICRA labeling system replaced RSACi in December 2000. The new ICRA system is backwards compatible with RSACi. These programs rate sites for content (e.g., sex, violence, etc.). I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example,
Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
Safe for Kids
The Safe for Kids designation is designed to indicate sites that are suitable for family viewing. I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example, Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
iClass AA Content Site for All Audiences (Child Safe)
The iClass System provides an inspected review and categorization of websites. My site has been approved as classification iClass AA because it exhibits these characteristics:
Content is child safe, but primarily focused towards adult visitors
Content not necessarily intended for or understandable by young children
No nudity
No adult language
No violent content
No adult situations
No age restricted activities presented or depicted (i.e. smoking or drinking)
I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example, Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
NB: The Medinex site now appears "gone". I'm checking on it.
The Internet has become one of the most widely used communication media. It is simple to set up a website and publish any kind of data. The problem is therefore no longer to find the information but to assess the credibility of the publisher, as well as the relevance and accuracy of a document retrieved from the net.
In many cases, the website provides no appropriate documentation regarding the scientific design of a medical study, nor are studies made available that support given claims.
To help unify and standardize the reliability of medical and health information available on the net, Medinex elaborated the Medinex Code of Ethics for medical and health Web sites.
The Medinex Code of Ethics doesn't intend to rate the quality or the information provided by a website. It only defines a set of rules designed to make sure the reader always knows the source and the purpose of the data he's reading.
CYBERsitter Approved
Possible Bogus Certification
CYBERsitter is a web filtering tool designed to filter "objectionable content". I submitted my site for review. I received a response, including the "approval" logo shown above.
I was surprised at the speed of my approval. Some certifications take several days or even more than a week. This response arrived within minutes, on a weekend.
So I submitted a second certification request, using an assumed name, a special test email address and the URL of a website that does not exist. Again, within minutes I received the logo.
Wow. Approval for a website that does not exist.
I recommend you take this particular certification with a healthy dose of salt. It appears to be less about certification than marketing.
enonymous.com
This was a site that offered privacy evaluations. I applied and was certified as having the "best" privacy standard (four stars). This site has since ceased operation and is no longer available either to issue new ratings or to confirm the old ones.
I've been unable to locate any similar privacy rating service that is either free or that charges a reasonable fee. (Some exist that charge more to certify my site than I pay to host the site. That seems a bit backwards to me.)
If I find a new one I'll apply there. If you know of one, email me.
United Federation of ChildSafe Web Sites
In addition to the name "United Federation of ChildSafe Web Sites", this certification is also known as ICCS and iWatchDog.
This site was certified in December 2001 as "Child Safe". The required ICCS META tag appears on the "home" page of this site.
I have strongly mixed feelings about the use of rating systems instead of supervision and monitoring. My opinions are not clearly formed. (See, for example, Peacefire.) While I work on these opinions, I've chosen to go ahead and list my site as being family safe, child safe, etc.
Royal Awards University Family Friendly Children Safety
This site seeks to certify sites as family friendly and child safe based on ethical considerations. It is the least restrictive of all the similar certifications.
This certification is offered by the Touch of Love awards site.
I was certified in April 2001.
Paradigm Associates
Website Certification
Website Certification is a new service offered by Paradigm Associates
effective March 23, 2004. The names and URLs of all Websites Certified are
listed on the linked page. Sites listed in order of date Certified. Sites are
checked periodically to insure continuing compliance. Visit the
Scoring System page to see how Web sites are evaluated for Certification.
CYBERsitter
