Five Things to
Tell Students and Parents about Online Social Network Services
By Tweed W. Ross, Ed.D
The four major online
social networking sites that have enjoyed phenomenal popularity with young
people are MySpace (www.myspace.com); FaceBook
(www.facebook.com); Xanga (www.Xanga.com); and Youtube
(www.youtube.com/index). Parents and children should be aware
that social networking sites, like any new technology tool, can be powerful
and fun, but dangerous if misused.
Here are five common-sense rules for safely enjoying these services:
1. Post only what you are comfortable having others see today and next year.
Today’s funny picture of you having a blast at somebody’s party
may be very embarrassing when you seek employment in a few years.
2. Do not divulge to strangers information that could put you in jeopardy.
Not everyone who joins these services is who he or she claims to be, and impersonation
is easily accomplished. You may thing you are talking to a fellow teenage
when, in fact, you are visiting with someone who will later turn out to be
a stalker or an identity thief. Dangerous information to divulge includes
personal financial records, addresses, and schedules that tell others when
you are and when you may be vulnerable.
3. Computers should be in public areas of the home and parents should be involved
in any online communication that students are having with strangers. Privacy
is certainly something to be respected, but students should be aware of their
parents’ concerns and interest in their well-being. A tell-tale sign
that a social networking site is being misused is if your child minimizes
the computer screen anytime you come near.
4. Report to authorities and you Internet service provider any suspicious
activities you or your children encounter while using social networking sites.
5. Watch what you say about your friends in the social networking sites –-
for two reasons: one, it may hurt their feelings; two, others may be looking
to gather private information about them.
Check PC Magazine, July 2006 for good articles on this topic, especially “A Predator’s Path,” p. 90-91.
Article reprinted from:
Ross, Tweed W., Ed.D.. "Five Things to Tell Students and Parents about
Online Social Network Services." Technology Integration for Teachers
November 2006: 4.