MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, LiveJournal ... Blogs, Social Networking ... "What does this mean?" Parents question. "And I really need to learn about these?"
The answer to the second question above is YES! blogging sites have become increasingly popular among young people, and there are risks parents should be aware. Many school officials had the lead in educating parents to take, because they are spread online questions about problems at school.Parents can not sit in the dark no more, we will help you to a better understanding of the problems here and now.
What it is:
Most of your children use the Internet regularly, socialize and communicate via Instant Messenger (IM), use the Internet for research and homework, and almost half of them at least look at the popular social networking sites. MySpace, Facebook, LiveJournal and Xanga sites are shown more often andwhile only 20% of children 12 to 17 * keep a blog is, more than 40% of young people visit them regularly. MySpace is the largest of these pages, with about 42 million users. Users - often teenagers - Create your own profile, customize with photos and descriptions of their interests, friends, favorite music, so viewers can send messages to the user component of integrated messaging, and messages are read for all to see. These sites require users to be of a kindto use a certain age [executive], and the website according to their stated requirements.
When the user sets his story he has to consider different options. One possibility is to ensure that only invited attendees can leave. This means that anyone who is not described as a "friend" is only able to interact not visit the camp with him. If this option is not selected, anyone can send messages to this user.
Take a look:
Vaihttp://www.MySpace.com navigate and it is not difficult. Some of the pages of children are very sweet, really. This is a way they understand, and if you've never had a website you can find yourself in a new world they have created a world that affect our young people. Select the image you want to communicate through the choice of colors, layout, text and music. It can be very charming, and many children come across as sweet and honest. But right next to the gentle naivetefind some suggestive or obscene images, profanity and references that may disturb. Some children - perhaps many children - are misrepresenting their age, and the promotion of an image that can not do them a favor.
'Preview Teens:
The strange problem is that many young people consider these areas as private, and that parents and adults who visit these sites, their privacy violated. They told me I should "askPermission "of a teenager on the ground that. In the world that anyone can see their side, seem to escape completely. If and when you do a search of these sites, be prepared for some resistance, especially by adolescents.
The topics for parents:
What exactly do parents have in this sector generates so much discussion is important? The most important points, as always, to safety. But as Internet use and communication, appropriate socialbehavior problems, appearance and image around the freedom of speech, parents should look more closely. Just like you, your teen will be determined by your beliefs, communication style, the behavior of your adolescent's age.
Snooping vs. Safety:
If the child was in trouble, you should go with his drawers to make it safe? There comes a time in which the parental responsibility over the child's right to privacy. Parents should teach yourMatch phrase exactly in line and how to address this problem.
parents established the rules from the beginning of Internet use and communication is easier when their children have learned that the computer is not a place with no supervision. Parents made the rules, but not to see their children running backs in this head "privacy" scream about. Not discouraged, because today a lot at stake. The children, according to their informationnot want to see college recruiters, coaches or potential employers can benefit from advice from experienced adults.
If your boyfriend told you he / she can not talk to strangers in chat rooms, you need to know that foreigners can enter their space and start the conversation in a different way when they are stuck. Children often incorrectly identify their age, but the school itself. What do they think they can not be found posting is often anything but that. So parentshave a responsibility to act now to acquire skills and knowledge that can harm your teen naive.
Pose, pose and peer image:
Adolescence is a time when children are formulating their self-image, a process that often some experiments, trial and error. Much of this process is done in view of their peers, such as young people try different roles and characters. Although this development process can be confusing for parents, they oftenExperiment falls within the "normal" limits. Think you know the current college student, you know who dressed all in black as a freshman in high school. Or the former preppy cheerleader who has loosened his image as "Birks". Dons put this in context, which can be seen as something that is not damaged or bad. In fact, the trial heard in cyberspace with an imaginary person more comfortable than the real life experience.
Take the boy with hisWeblog answered yes to the question: "Did you drink last weekend?" In front, the 15 years, said his mother that he "really does not drink," he said simply that its a "cool". girl I know is 18 years presented with a provocative pose on her MySpace page - certainly not the projection of the shy girl, I know. She is fully clothed, and while there is nothing wrong in his photographs, he projects a very differentthan the rest of the person she projects in person. Children who experiment in this way can not cross the lines of acceptable behavior, even if a parent can interfere with it ... and an opportunity for important discussion, at least.
Crossing the Line:
Posing as another person is all too common on the Internet, and is often the cause of the offensive behavior. Children are known to send messages that should determine someone else, news, and unnecessary painMisunderstanding. This communication problem is the worst, and explaining some of the major dangers of the web communication. Maybe you've heard the term "cyber-bullying". Heard this is worth learning, because it happened in the middle and high schools every day. Even here, there is a role for the involvement of parents here if your teen has made Internet communications than anyone else in her.
(For a good 2-minute video about the dangers go NetSmartz.comand the video "cyberbullying" and "Broken Friendship.")
real dangers:
Do not kid yourself that the dangers are real. Current (February 2006) incidents, with seven young Connecticut police is to investigate sexual violence were the result of meetings initiated by MySpace.com. Predators is easy to obtain personal information - including phone numbers and addresses - of children who are listed on web pages, orparticipate in an anonymous Internet chat rooms.
(For an excellent short video that demonstrates how easy it is NetSmartz.com and switch to the "Tracking Teresa.")
The end result:
Do not panic, but be informed. Parents, children should know the actual activities in cyberspace. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. If your child is posting on one of the weblog can probably use some advice on appropriate ways in thisWorld. E 'useful to discuss the on-line communication and its consequences. Even as teenagers need to know that adults are aware of what an online presence, and the potential impact of this. These are not private.
Rules your home - Start with Family Culture:
What to teach your children to communicate with strangers? What do you want to teach appropriate language? Beth Fredericks, an educator, parent Internet safety conducted classes, says"Start with your family culture. Keep the rules for use of the Internet in compliance with all other rules that you have done for your family, how they grow." Do not let the children, which is their private domain ... there is nothing to be intimidated at the request private.
Recommendations:
Keep the computer in an open space for the family, not in a nursery.
Limit time online.
Be aware of how the child spends their time online.
Inform your teen on the InternetReality - these areas are not private, and you can keep track of users, even when you provide personal information limited.
Never to talk in open chat room.
Share your password or request a password from a friend.
Never pretend to be someone they are not.
If you're online, just say the things you say, if you were face to face.
Resources:
isafe.org an information, organization and training for parents and educators is about safety on the Internet offers. (Visithttp://www.isafe.org learn more about this free program).
NetSmartz.org (www.NetSmartz.org) is another source of information for parents and provide useful information on-line videos and other resources.
* A study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project
2006 © Sue Blaney
