Hear me out: prepare and teach your child about computers by stepping through generations of hardware.

No 21st century kid is going to want to use an 8 or 16 bit microcomputer from the 80s. But a kid running Windows 98 with only airgapped internet access, basically can't get in trouble and has access to decades of extremely dope software. They'll have the ability to learn and explore computing without it being a dumbed down experience trying to shuffle them into hell world.

A more modernized equivalent might be setting them up with a Raspberry Pi or LattePanda or the like running a basic Linux install that they can learn how to use.

Just slapping a kid down in front of a modern OS or god forbid something like an iPad is going to leave them entirely tech illiterate and primed to actively seek out the dopamine spiral of capitalist slop content like their classmates.

I don't really have a good solution for the culture gap they will have with their peers, but it sounds like you already have decided not to expose your child to the monoculture by ushering them away from AI slop and the various fascist influencers like Mr. Beast.

My kids are nowhere near this stage but it's something I've been thinking about myself. Look at what you can do in the DNS settings for your modem, you should be able to block domains and you may be able to do that per device. Another option is I've seen you can set Wikipedia as the default search engine in Firefox. I don't know why you'd do that normally but it might be good for kids if the only place they can search for things is on there

I obviously worry about the prospect of him stumbling across and consuming content from pond scum like Andrew Tate. And honestly even shit like Mr. Beast.

In some ways I think especially Mr beast. Everyone can see what an absolute scumbag Tate is, even the people who "admire" him are I suspect being edgy, but to a lot of people Mr beast is just a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, someone to look up to. Trying to explain to a young nibling what's wrong with the guy at the same time their parents were teaching them that saving is good was... Interesting, because all they see is "well mum and dad tell me that saving up money is good and he has lots of money so he must be good at saving", and I certainly don't want to undermine their parenting, but at the same time seeing young children look up to that greedy, self-centred, reactionary arsehole makes me sick.

Some literacy in browser extensions is also needed on today's internet. ublock origin and ublacklist are particular favorites. I don't have children though and haven't been able to teach my mom how to use these correctly. It would probably be easier to teach a child.

Put a Linux or BSD OS on it

I haven't gotten to this stage yet. However, one thing I'm considering is taking the "family computer" model by expanding it to "family computer time". Think of it like parallel play, where you and your son are using the internet, in a shared space, to explore your own interests independently. Ideally, they can see what you're doing and you can see what they're doing, so sitting side by side for example.

They get all the self directed engagement, but it isn't unsupervised. My hope is if we're both using our computers together, they'll be curious about what I'm doing, and that should prompt conversation.

Question: what kid of device access does your kid have in school?

The answer to that should help you understand what they're already capable of in terms of using a computer. They probably already know how to look up something they're interested in. They probably already know some sites they want to go to. Some things though, they might not know how to do.

Like, creating their own email account for example. Something they might need to get to sites they want.

As they hit road blocks while using the internet, if you're doing it in parallel, it should be natural for them to ask you questions to solve their road blocks.

Basically, my thinking is, like anything, modeling usage for your kids should go a long way in naturally teaching them. Being present while they have the freedom to explore their device and the internet should help you get a sense of what they're into, and let you catch things that you think are problematic.

I also believe its important to take less of a prescriptive approach to this. If this begins with long exposition about the internet they'll probably not want to do it. Basically don't preach, don't lecture, and probably show instead of tell.

Like, let's say your kid wants to watch a Mr. Beast video, it's probably better to watch it together and provide your own commentary over it then to just tell them "don't watch Mr. Beast," and then fly into a lecture about him.

That's all theory anyway. I think its summed up in the Authoritarian Parent vs the Authoritative Parent. Yes, "Authoritarian" in this context is bad. Presenting yourself as a knowledgeable source, and showing your knowledge, will go much farther then telling them not to do something.

Give him some Marx and some select speeches by Xi so that he starts out with a white hot rage against the bourgeoisie. Then he'll find his way to social media and learn to hate America. He'll guaranteed come back to you and say (in perfect Mandarin) thank you for protecting me from the evils of the greater Satan. I have seen the evils of the empire. Please teach me how to post as good as a Hexbear so that I may bring about a third world revolution."

From there you can show him James Cameron's Avatar movies, Project Hail Mary, and a couple Mr. Beans and you're basically good to go.