Social Networking (example: MySpace.com) -The Good and the Bad

(This information is taken from education-world.com- http://www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues/issues423.shtml )

Social networking sites are very attractive environments for teens, as well as for adults. Such sites present opportunities for self-expression and friendship building.   Legitimate concerns do exist about youth involvement on these sites, however. Those concerns are grounded in three basic factors:

1) The sites are attracting many teens, some of whom are not making good choices.

2) Many parents are not paying attention to what their children are posting on the sites.

3) Predators -- and likely other dangerous strangers -- are attracted to places where teens are not making good choices and adults are not paying attention.

Online Guidelines for Students

Online safety and responsible use guidelines for students include:

• Be kind to others. Think how you would feel if someone posted similar things about you.
• Think before you post. Material posted in these communities is public, could damage your reputation, or could be used to harm you. It is not private!
• Take steps to protect yourself and others from bullying and harassment.
• Report concerns to the Web site and to a trusted adult.
• Report to an adult if someone posts threats of violence or self-harm. Such threats could be real threats. Don't post threats yourself. Someone might take you seriously.
• Develop "stranger danger" detection skills. People online might not be who they seem to be.
• Develop a safety plan for meeting online friends that is approved by your parent.
• Stop the predators. If you have been contacted by someone you think might be a sexual predator, report it to a trusted adult.

Web Resources

www.OnGuardOnline.gov : Provides practical tips from the federal government and technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

www.FTC.gov/idtheft : The Federal Trade Commission's website has information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

www.GetNetWise.org : A project of the Internet Education Foundation, the GetNetWise coalition wants internet users to be just "one click away" from the resources they need to make informed decisions about their and their family's use of the internet.

www.CyberBully411.org  : Cyberbully411, created by Internet Solutions for Kids, is an effort to provide resources for youth who have questions about or have been targeted by online harassment.

www.ConnectSafely.org : ConnectSafely, a project of Tech Parenting Group, is for parents, teens, educators and advocates for learning about safe, civil use of Web 2.0 together.

www.iKeepSafe.org : iKeepSafe educational resources teach children of all ages, in a fun, age-appropriate way, the basic rules of internet safety, ethics, and the healthy use of connected technologies.

www.NetFamilyNews.org : A nonprofit news service for parents, educators, and policymakers who want to keep up on the latest technology news and commentary about online youth, in the form of a daily blog or weekly email newsletter.

www.NetSmartz.org : The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys & Girls Clubs of America that uses age-appropriate, 3D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the internet.

www.WiredSafety.org : WiredSafety provides help, information, and education to internet and mobile device users of all ages.

www.StaySafeOnline.org : Through collaboration with the government, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, the National Cyber Security Alliance seeks to create a culture of cyber security and safety awareness by providing knowledge and tools to prevent cyber crime and attacks.