From 07ee189e2ce244881c6858471d3142c53aaca569 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Philip Withnall Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2020 11:49:01 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] docs: Add a development principles section to the README This documents some development principles which should be borne in mind when working on new malcontent features. Signed-off-by: Philip Withnall --- README.md | 26 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 26 insertions(+) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 654e390..37c2088 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -52,6 +52,32 @@ AppArmor or SELinux. However, its correct use by applications should provide enough of an obstacle to prevent users easily or accidentally having access to content which they shouldn’t. +Development principles +--- + +malcontent exists to make it easier for parents to responsibly set limits on +what their children can do on the computer (similarly, for other carer/caree +relationships). It should provide guidance on, and nudge parents towards, +following the best practice for discussing, choosing and setting restrictions on +their child’s computer use. + +Restrictions should be supported which allow giving children access to material +which is appropriate to their age/stage of development, but which can restrict +access to other material so they are not overwhelmed with too many, or too +complex, ideas for their stage of development. Similarly, restrictions should be +supported to control unsupervised communication with unknown people online, as +being coerced or bullied is one of the more common harms for children online. + +Best practices should be research and evidence-based, and supported by large +international or national childrens’ organisations or charities. They may change +over time. + +malcontent is a tool to help with a social problem. In the hands of a bad +parent, it can be used to do bad things. Features in malcontent should be +designed with that in mind, such that if they are used maliciously, they should +not give the parent radically more power over their child than they would have +had without malcontent. + Example usage ---