I don't think anyone is trying to prevent kids from gaining knowledge and skills while using the internet on a computer. The kids can develop all the knowledge they can handle and more ... This (at least in theory) is about protecting them from dubious characters and services online .. just like you would want you local police protect your child if they walk to the store at night from dubious characters lurking in the street. Your kid can learn python and become a world leader using the internet and do fine, without accessing torture videos or sleazy markets to buy speed from online. And just like the cop will not always be able to see your kid buying drugs on the street because they might be hiding deliberately from the said cop.. the same may happen online.. and the kid might choose to go on sites by hiding their real age .. and go into a lot more of a psychological damaging enviroment than the back alley offered. The oversight is never perfect.. but it is a mental checkpoint that can steer a kid by at least showing the right path.. choice is always theirs. Now.. that this subject is being used by corporations for other reasons.. yeah. That is another debate. But we shouldn t cast stones at a rule just because it may be misused. Instead just work on it . Or hold the misusers accountable.. not the law.