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First check whether the specific NPR-related page has comments and which service runs them. Comment availability and rules can differ across NPR.org, member stations, and regional projects. If the page embeds Disqus, its age rules matter: Disqus says people must be over 18 to access its service and that it is not intended for children under 18. Do not let a child use a service or submit comments if the page’s applicable terms do not allow it.

Does NPR still have comments?

There is no safe basis for assuming every NPR-related page has the same comment setup. StateImpact Pennsylvania reported on February 28, 2017, that NPR.org had ended comments the previous summer. That is a historical report, not confirmation of the current setup on a particular NPR.org page, member-station site, or StateImpact page.

Before a child reads or tries to post, look at the exact page: are comments visible, what provider is embedded, and which local rules and age requirements apply? NPR.org could not be checked for current availability for this article, so the live status of a page must be determined on that page itself.

Can my child use Disqus?

If the page uses Disqus, follow Disqus’s own age restrictions rather than treating comments as a child-friendly feature. Its user terms, dated May 14, 2025, require users to be over 18 to access the service. Its privacy policy, updated July 10, 2026, says, “The Service is not intended for use by children under the age of 18.” The policy also says Disqus does not knowingly collect or sell personal information from children under 18.

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Dr.meter EM100 Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids Adults, Ear Muffs
  • 【Extremely Comfortable to Wear】: Wrap your child's ears in cloud-like softness! Dr.meter noise cancelling headphone is made of premium memory foam cores with PU leather padding, creating a breathable seal that stays cozy during monster jams, fireworks, concerts, or even long-term sports events. Designed for providing comfortable wearing—no itching or pressure marks!
  • 【SNR 27.4dB Noise Reduction】: Reduce only, NOT MUTE. This kids earmuff is cutting-edge acoustic engineering meets mom-approved protection; ABS shells+ triple-layer sound-dampening foam block harmful decibels at monster truck rallies while keeping voices clear for "Mommy, look!" moments. It reduces noise (by 27.4 dB SNR/20dB NRR) but does not completely block sound, suitable for noise sensitive kids, child concentration aid, and autism sensory.
  • 【Adjustable Headband to Fit All】: The headband of the noise cancelling headphone for kids can smoothly adjust to fit different head sizes, from toddlers and children to teenagers and even adults. Tips: If you feel the earmuff is too tight when you use it for the first time, you can put it on the package box (or size 3 soccer ball) for 4 hours to loosen it.
  • 【Double-Certified Safety】: Breathe easy with ANSI S3.19-1974 & CE EN 352-1 certified hearing armor. Our noise-canceling earmuffs are meticulously designed to provide optimal safety. With an impressive SNR of 27.4 dB, they excel at reducing noise and protecting your kids' ears as well as your own hearing.
  • 【For Inside & Outside Activities】: From school study to air shows, celebration fireworks to monster truck races, and noisy concerts to theme park chaos—these foldable ear defenders transform noise hazards into joyful memories. Dr. meter kids ear muffs are the perfect solution for your child's hearing protection needs.

Those are Disqus rules, not a single universal NPR rule. A site may have separate requirements: for example, StateImpact Oklahoma’s terms say a person must be at least 18 to submit user materials or personally identifying information there, and tell children under 13 not to send information about themselves. Check the terms linked from the page your family is viewing; do not create an account for a child where the provider bars under-18 users.

What should my child never post in a comment?

Keep information that could identify, locate, or contact a child out of public comments. This includes a full name, school, home or regular location, phone number, email address, birth date, and identifying photos or other images. Disqus warns that its service is public: content may be seen, used, or reposted by Disqus or other people. Deleting a post later cannot guarantee that copies will disappear.

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ProCase Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids/Toddlers SNR 27dB Ear Muffs
  • Constructed by solid ABS shell and thickened sound-absorbing foam, our earmuffs achieve SNR 27 dB noise-isolation, ANSI S3.19 (US) and CE EN352-1(EU) both certified, which can reduce sensory overload, perfect for kids with autism or sensory issues
  • The adjustable headband features ergonomics telescopic arms that can stretch up to 32 mm/ 1.3 inch on each side, which makes it possible to cover various head sizes for different ages of kids. No worries about kids’ fast growing
  • Kindly Note: For more efficient sound isolation, the earmuffs are a little tight before using. If you feel tight for your kids, we recommend putting it on a box or other objects for 1-2 days to stretch the headband and get it looser
  • Crafted with skin-friendly materials, the well-padded headband offers maximum comfort and snug fit with less pressure. The 360° rotatable cups and ultra-soft ear cushions provide long-lasting comfort. In addition, the holeless pivot frees your worry of hair getting stuck
  • Compact folding design is for easy storage and convenient portability, enabling you to bring them to any noisy scenes, such as monster jam truck show, fireworks, airplane travel, sports events, Disneyland and concerts

NPR’s May 20, 2024 interview with Harvard Law School faculty member Leah Plunkett discusses the lasting privacy implications of sharing details and images about children. Her book, Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk About Our Kids Online, offers broader context on children’s privacy, not a guide to NPR comments. See the NPR interview with Plunkett.

Does moderation make comments safe?

No. A moderation policy can set boundaries, but it is not a promise that every harmful post will be caught before a child sees it. Disqus’s Basic Rules prohibit targeted harassment, spam, impersonation, direct threats, and posting specified personal identifiers such as an address, phone number, email, or Social Security number. But Disqus says, “Disqus doesn’t moderate or manage the communities that use Disqus”. The publisher or site operator may have its own rules and moderation process.

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ZOHAN Kids Ear Protection 2 Pack, 25dB NRR Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids, with Pillowy Pads, for Monster Truck, School, Autism, Sensory, Fireworks, Concerts, Events (Blue+Green)
  • [2026 UPGRADED DURABILITY] No more falling ear pads! We have reinforced the ear cushion bonding process to withstand rough play and daily use. Ideal for active kids and long-term storage
  • [THE PERFECT PAIR - SCHOOL & HOME] Why 2 Pack? Keep one in the school backpack for classroom focus and one at home for loud activities like fireworks or lawn mowing. Never worry about forgetting hearing protection again
  • [SENSORY FRIENDLY SUPPORT] Specifically designed for children with sensory sensitivities (Autism/ADHD). The ultra-soft foam provides a quiet sanctuary, helping kids stay calm and focused in overwhelming environments
  • [CERTIFIED SAFETY & COMFORT] ANSI S3.19 & CE EN 352.1 certified with 25dB NRR. Metal-free, lightweight construction ensures no "head-squeeze" even during long hours at monster truck shows or air shows
  • [20 YEARS OF EXPERTISE] Join 1,000,000+ happy parents. ZOHAN offers a 1-year warranty on all kids' earmuffs. If they break, we replace them—no questions asked

For example, StateImpact’s community guidelines say, “Comments will be moderated by the site managers and reporters,” and list personal information, spam, personal attacks, profanity, defamation, and hate speech among material that may be removed. That describes StateImpact’s policy, not NPR-wide rules. A 2012 NPR-hosted FAQ described different moderation approaches across parts of the site; it is historical and should not be read as current policy.

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Is guest commenting anonymous?

Not necessarily. Disqus offers guest commenting only when an individual site enables it. Guest posts require manual approval and do not provide the account and profile features available to registered users. Disqus explicitly distinguishes guest commenting from anonymous commenting, so it should not be treated as a way to hide identity or share personal details safely.

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iClever EM01 Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids Adults, SNR 29dB EarMuffs
  • Double-Certified Safety】Certified to ANSI S3.19-1974 & CE EN 352-1 for reliable hearing protection. We combined the 22mm porous sound-absorbing sponge and custom-made honeycomb acoustic sponge together to absorb and reduce noises while ensuring comfy wearing, achieving an SNR of 29dB and offering reductions up to 46dB under certain scenarios. Please note that earmuffs cannot 100% eliminate noise.
  • 【Kid-Friendly】Designed for children with autism or sensory sensitivities, The kids ear muffs reduces sensory overload and blocks external triggers. Uses BPA-free ABS material and silicone-free earcups, just use these hearing protection ear muffs with peace of mind.
  • 【Multi-scenario Applicable】Did you know 1 in 8 kids suffers permanent hearing damage from loud noise? Concerts, fireworks, monster jam shows, sporting events, even parties — noise can get dangerous fast. These foldable ear muffs provide reliable protection in all these situations and store compactly for easy travel.
  • 【Absolute Comfortable Wearing】Hours of wearing ear muffs can hurt, which is why we've designed this hearing protection with 18mm-thick slow rebound sound-absorbing acoustic sponge padding covered with skin-friendly leather for greater comfort, the snug-fit headband provides 1/3 less pressure than other average ear muffs. In addition, the holeless pivot frees your worry of hair getting stuck.
  • 【Multi-Age & Durability】Stop Replacing Ear Muffs Every Few Months. Kids grow quickly. That's why iClever ear muffs for noise reduction come with ergonomics telescopic arms, stretching up to 38mm on each side. Perfect for ages 5 and up. Armed with tough 301 stainless steel and 2mm-thick steel bars, these noise cancelling headphones for kids withstand any twist and bend by little hands.
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ProCase Kids Noise Cancelling Headphones Ear Hearing Protection, Red
  • Effective Hearing Protection: Suitable for 3-15 year old kids. The toddler noise reduction headphones muffle noise to prevent hearing damage; It is a perfect gift for children who have sound sensitivities for airplane flights, monster jam, sports events, Disneyland, concerts, movie theaters, fireworks, etc.
  • Authorized Certification: Constructed by solid ABS-shell and thickened noise-dampening foam, the ear muffs offer an NRR 24dB rating and block out noise by a great amount, ANSI S3.19 (US) & CE EN352-1(EU) certified
  • One Size Fits All: Retractable stainless steel and 360 rotatable ear cups with comfortable foam can be adjusted to fit any child's head of various ages; Effortlessly keep the earmuffs for your child's lifetime
  • Ultra Soft and Comfort: Padded headband reduces the pressure on your kid’s head for superior comfort while soft ear cushions ensure a snug fit; Ergonomic design helps your beloved little ones to feel confident and secure
  • Compact Folding Design: Easily tuck the earpieces back into the headband for compact storage and convenient portability; the ear protection headphones fold up nicely to fit in a backpack without adding bulk while taking up less space

A practical safety checklist for parents

  1. Inspect the exact page. Confirm that comments are present, identify the embedded provider, and open the page’s own terms, age requirements, and moderation rules.
  2. Respect the provider’s age limit. Do not let a child create or use an account on a service that does not permit under-18 users, or submit material where the page’s terms prohibit it.
  3. Keep identifying details out. Do not post a child’s full name, school, location, contact information, birth date, or identifying images.
  4. Assume a public post can travel. Moderation and guest posting do not guarantee privacy, safety, or anonymity.
  5. Make a no-reply plan. If someone asks for personal information, contacts the child privately, threatens or harasses them, or makes them uncomfortable, the child should stop engaging and tell a trusted adult. The adult can preserve relevant details and use the page or provider’s reporting options.

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