The 21st century is proved to be a generation of advancements which include the birth of different kinds of social networking sites. The internet has become a commercialized vehicle of mass information, and an entertainment portal .
Long before it was open and in reach to the general public, and definitely before Al Gore thought of “taking the initiative” of creating it, the internet and its users were already the focal point for social interaction.
Social networking sites are great for acquainting with people, business, dating or just connecting with friends; it creates a sense of community to us and our friends. Oh, the internet.
However, we have to admit, communities around the world, especially the internet, have bad elements; most of these said elements are hidden until law enforcement officials point these out to us.
There are just as many new opportunities to connect as there are to get into potential danger, not only to ourselves but children and teenagers as well.
Although these social networks provide forms of interaction and connections between users young or old, it is clear that it attracts the attention of non-users specifically because of the privacy concerns they raise.
Social networking has opened up many new paths and doors for cyber-crime, and with all the people on social networks who are completely new to technology, it is more important to make sure people are aware of the risks these sites may bring.
We are very much aware that adults are not the only ones using these sites but children are also actively interacting with the many strange and unknown people on these sites as well.
Teens are spending more and more time on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace unaware of the long-term personal havoc they could create with a click of a button. Sometimes we do not realize that from behind some teenagers’ bedroom door, there may lie a digital scar that could linger and persist for the rest of their lives.
Social networking sites can be great places to visit and meet new people, however children should be taught the same rules about strangers and the dangers they present in the online world.
Teen profiles can easily lead the wrong kind of people to your doorstep. This is where parental responsibility enters–let’s stop this from happening. Parents need to exercise caution with their kid’s profiles on these social networking sites. Children using these sites can be safe if parents take the time to sit with and guide them. Parents can make sure they are not entering too much personal data such as their home address or what school they go to. Just as it is simple for a young child to fake their age online, it is easy for a potential predator to fake a profile claiming to have the same interests and the same age.
Always be open with your kids and have continual discussions on what is appropriate and what is not as far as giving out personal information on the internet. It is vital that parents and children understand that the internet is no different than the real world. Internet service providers can provide parental controls and there is software available to block certain sites.
We should all be critically aware of the dangers brought by social networks. Also, always remember and think about what things are possible online; as with most things outside the cyber world or simply, in life, there are circumstances and there are risks–eliminate unnecessary risks.
It is important to remember that these sites can also be misused by anyone and we need to take charge of our privacy and reputation. There was never a law stating that we need to share private confidential information online.
Use social networks to share and promote creative thoughts and ideas. Be generous, but don’t give information you wouldn’t want anyone seeing in public or by looking over your. Always think twice about your usage of social networks– are social networks frying our brains?
It’s for you to decide.
