It took five years to approve turning .xxx into a dedicated Internet first-level domain, but the governing body which oversees Internet domain naming has finally done it. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - known as Icann - has agreed to give pornographic websites their own online "Red Light District". Soon parents will have a new filtering mechanism to protect their kids from landing in sexually explicit World Wide Web territories ... every one ending in .xxx

In a statement, ICM said the creation of the .xxx domain would:

"help protect children from exposure to online pornography and also have a positive impact on online adult entertainment through voluntary efforts of the industry."

X-Rated sites will be encouraged to move to the new domains to make it easier for people to filter and avoid them -- perhaps as soon as this fall.

The question now: Will the creators of these sites make the transition once browsers support .xxx as a dedicated domain?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers said Wednesday it would begin negotiations with ICM Registry, run by British businessman Stuart Lawley.

ICANN spokesman Kieran Baker said that adult-oriented sites may have the opportunity to begin buying "xxx" addresses as early as fall or winter.

ICANN usually takes six to nine months to wrap up the approval process.

New.net already retails .xxx domains, but they have had little success to-date as most web browsers do not yet support them.

Much will depend upon the ICM's plans. Once formally approved, ICM will need to work out technical issues and pricing for those willing to invest in the new Web suffix. Also, yet to be determined, is how the new net destination will be run.

Many of the new domains that Icann has approved are for specific industries or special interest groups.

Pornography has become a $12 billion industry.

Internet research groups said pornography currently accounts for 10 percent of online traffic. Today, there are approximately one million websites that offer sexually explicit content.

Moving to the .xxx domain will be entirely voluntary.

John Morris, staff counsel at the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology, said "It will further help to protect kids."

ICM said that some pornographers have expressed support for the idea.

Others, like Playboy Enterprises, do not intend to transition to Playboy.xxx. Their .com website was established years ago, and they would likely have to pay a pretty penny to New.net - who currently owns it - to take over the ownership of this domain name.

If Paris Hilton decides to register parishilton.xxx, she'll have to go through a New Jersey fellow by the name of Michael Hatsko to get it. But then why bother when kids can go to CKE Restaurants' Carl's Jr. / Hardee's two web sites to see her latest television commercial.

The pornopreneurs who do register their sites with .xxx at the end will be overseen by the non-profit International Foundation for Online Responsibility.

According to a report put out by The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 70% of teenagers (ages 15-17) "have accidentally come across pornography on the Web."

Three Products That Support Content Filtering

Three products that support content filtering -- which Rugged Elegance recommends -- are:

Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition

The Norton Parental Control feature helps you safeguard children from inappropriate content by blocking access to specified Web sites and newsgroups. Norton Internet Security AntiSpyware Edition helps you defend yourself, your family and your PC online with the all-in-one protection.

PC-cillin Internet Security 2005 [AntiVirus, Firewall, Spam, Spyware, Wi-Fi Patrol]

PC-cillin Internet Security 2005 also blocks hackers, detects and removes spyware, guards against phishing attacks, filters unwanted content, and minimizes spam. New features include home-network control and Wi-Fi intrusion detection--extending desktop security to your home and wireless networks.

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Family Pack - 5 Client [DVD]

Apple's latest version of Safari, which ships with Mac OS X Tiger, allows you to specify which Internet sites, often called a "White List" that your children can freely access. Mac OS X for the Family gives parents greater control over how their kids use the Mac. Only the sites on the Bookmarks Bar are accessible. New web addresses typed into the address field or non-approved, "black listed" sites linked from approved sites will not load on Safari. Instead, an error message appears, giving your child the option to request approval on blocked pages.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "filtering out xxx" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC