When School Filters Go Overboard: A Student’s Perspective on Recent Restrictions
In recent times, many students have noticed a significant change in their school’s internet filtering system. As part of the new measures, the institution adopted a filter called “LightSpeed,” which has increasingly become a point of frustration among the student body.
Unfortunately, the implementation of this filter has been less than ideal. It restricts access to a wide array of educational and recreational websites that students have relied on for their coursework and leisure activities. For instance, essential tools like Google Earth are now blocked—making it difficult to utilize features necessary for classroom projects, such as virtual geography explorations.
Even websites that once seemed harmless, like Cool Math Games, have been added to the blocklist, despite their longstanding role as a fun and educational distraction since early school years. As a result, students have had to find alternative ways to pass the time, often defaulting to simple games like Google Snake after completing their assignments.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that some college-related websites are also restricted, which raises concerns about the filter’s overall restrictiveness and its impact on academic research and resource access.
This experience highlights the importance of balanced internet filtering—ensuring safety without impeding essential educational tools or student autonomy. It’s worth bringing these concerns to school administrators to seek a more practical approach that supports both security and learning.