Wii: A child’s gateway to porn?

Is the Wii a threat to the virgin innocence of America’s youth? Shelly Slater ([email protected]), a reporter with WFAA in Dallas/Ft. Worth seems to think so.

After talking with sources like “other parents” and “a blog” about the dangers of Internet browsing on the Wii, Slater comes to the conclusion that it is (and the PS3 as well).

But because the Wii, the PS3 and other game consoles have Internet access, it’s easy for kids to access porn. “It’s very upsetting something this popular’a kid game’can go that direction so quickly,” Schroeder said.

Young kids get it. In a blog, one child boasted, “The first thing I thought of when I downloaded the Wii browser was also porn.”

Personal note to parents: Spend time with your kids. Talk with them. Learn about their likes and dislikes. Know what they’re up to. In other words, be a parent.

What’s the fallout for this story been? I’ve seen it around on gaming blogs this week. Should the reporter have called Nintendo for comment? Sony? Should the fact that this is a beta release have been mentioned? Why were PCs not singled out in this story, seeing as they are the dominate medium for adult material?

[Image, no lie, is courtesy of WPAA’s web site]

UPDATE: The channel is WFAA. And yes, that is the WFAA’s original image for the story. (Since altered, by them.) Thanks MacUser.