Safe Blogging Advice for Parents
(http://www.blogsafety.com/parentsguide.htm) |
Kids
will express themselves online. Help them to it safely
Most adults define their
community in geographical terms - the people who live nearby. But thanks to the
Internet, many teens and some preteens also live in virtual communities that
have no geographical boundaries. For better or worse, the Internet has opened
them up to the world.
Nowhere is this more profound
than the recent trend of "blogging." Short for "web log," a "blog" is a web
page maintained by an individual, organization or business for the purpose of
communicating with others. There are millions of blogs out there and, according
to researchers at Georgetown University people run more than half of them
between 13 and 19.
Kids are using these blogs for
all sorts of things, ranging from describing their homework assignments to
exploring their hobbies to exposing their innermost thoughts. Some kids post
photos on their blogs or put up links to their favorite music or movies.
There are a lot of positive
aspects to blogging. For one thing, it helps teens develop language and
communications skills -- and becoming an Internet publisher can greatly enhance
a teenager's sense of self-esteem. Blogs offer young people not only a sounding
board for what's on their mind, but also feedback and validation from others,
who can comment on what they write using a feedback mechanism on the blog
itself.
Blogs can also be used as
learning tools. There are some teachers and schools, for example, which
encourage students to use blogging tools to discuss their assignments.
Although there are some
commercial blogging services that charge money, most kids take advantage of the
free services like MySpace, LiveJournal, Xanga, or MSN Spaces. In compliance
with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, most of these sites are open
only to children 13 or older (although check the Terms of Use for any
particular site to be sure), but younger children to lie about their age if
they're determined to create a blog.
Like so many other positive
things on the Net, there is also a dark side to blogs spaces and other online
social networking tools. Because they are generally open forums where people
can post just about anything, they are also subject to misuse. Some children
and teens, for example, have put personal information on blogs that make it too
easy for a stranger to locate them, call them on the phone or send them e-mail.
Others have posted photos, which can make it easier for a stranger to identify
them. There are cases where students have also posted photos with inappropriate
poses and clothing, or lack thereof. Some reference or even celebrate the use
of drugs, alcohol or harmful diets. Tragically, there have even been blogs that
encourage suicide.
If your child or teen has a blog,
ideally it would be good if he or she told you the blog's web address so you
could monitor what was being posted and be sure your child isn't posting any
personal information or anything else that could be harmful. But the truth is
that many kids who have blogs are reluctant to tell their parents because they
use the blogs to express themselves in ways that they may not want to share
with their parents. This is a tough issue. On one hand, parents have a right
(some would say obligation) to stay on top of what their kids are doing,
especially when it comes to a publicly accessible Internet site. On the other
hand - right or wrong -- it's hardly unusual for kids to want to keep some
secrets from their parents, especially when it comes to emotional issues which
are so often explored in teen blogs. Though this doesn't always work, parents
can attempt to find if their child has a blog by using the blogging service's
search feature to search for the child's email address, first and last name,
nicknames, school name, or any other word that you think your child may have
used in a profile.
At the very least, you should
have a discussion with your child. Ask if they have a blog, and ask how they
are using it and if you can get them to share the web address. But, regardless
of what they say, it's still a good idea to talk with them about the safe and
unsafe use of blogs. Some blogging services offer safety and privacy tips for
their members as well as tools to limit who can visit member blogs. Ask your
kids they've read the service's tips and policies and whether they're using any
available privacy features. If not, ask them why.
Think carefully about whether or
not you should try to prohibit them from having a blog at all. Some teens might
go ahead and maintain a blog even if their parents object. But, whatever you
do, be sure to talk with them about how they can protect their safety and
privacy. Remind your kids that giving out personal information can be dangerous
and that whatever they post on their blog can follow them for the rest of their
lives. A photo or a piece of writing that may seem funny or cool or just a wee
bit edgy to a 16-year-old could be very embarrassing a few years later when
that same young person is trying to get a job or establish a relationship.
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