Mar 11, 2010
Facebook Safety
I saw this video as I was informing others about the dangers of the Internet. I am mixed about who is more at risk – those that are my age or young people. It has become so normal for young people that they don’t think about the consequences. The world is diffferent for them. Should they have fears as we do. Of course but wow they are expected to make important choices about their lives at a much younger age than we did. They are expected to mistrust and be so very very cautious before they even grow up. During our formative years we were allowed to be naive and that is probably what kept us watching Disney and being slightly innocent. So when I was 12 would I want to think about the whole world not just my street and how my actions impact me and everyone else? I think it is too much. Internet safety is critical to teach and keep in our minds as we work through all content areas in school.
Clearly this is a huge problem. Needless to say the chances of getting your identity stolen is high for those who are not internet savy. This is especially true for young children who feel safe in their homes on a computer. I get spam emails all the time from “banks” asking me to update my information. These sites are very cleaver, they use templates that mirror a particular bank and even have similar web addresses. I know better, but think about someone who is new to the internet for example a senior citizen. They would be most vulnerable to these types of emails.
I am actually more concerned about senior citizens
This makes me nervous. I do so much online. I feel like I am safe because I know how to set safety settings on facebook for example. Some parents don’t and can’t set that up for their kids. I think it is really important to educate students on internet safety. They have to be aware of it. We had a couple of great assemblies. It showed the students how easy it is to find information on a person using the internet. It also showed them the dangers of this. It really got them thinking and I hope that will be in the back of their minds when they use the internet. Our job is education and we should take the responsibility for educating them on the dangers that are out there.
I think what is worst is that we are all a bit lax. How many of us order online, fill out surveys, etc. It is everywhere.
We have an internet safety course on our school website. Many teachers took it during a conference day. There are so many dangers when online, I do not think that students are really aware of them until they hear of someone first hand that has had a problem. I find that most students feel immortal in many ways during their middle/high school years. It’s the same way with using condoms and having safe sex. Obviously students do not realize the dangers, or we would not have so many pregnant teenagers in our county. Oh, to be young and immortal!!!Now I have become old and paranoid.
My teenage children have Facebook pages, and it is amazing how much information is shared. As a parent, it is very scarey. My two sisters have “Friended” my children, so I know that they keep up with the news!
The innocence of youth is something that was created for many American children post WW2. It was when suburbia and the American dream of home ownership complete with the husband who worked, the wife who stayed home and the 2.3 children. It was a relatively short lived time in history. Andy Griffith’s America where leave it to Beaver seemed to be the norm, was that safe time where the kids could simply be kids. Yes 1948- 1963 was such a lovely time in history according to the baby boomers lucky enough to reside in the United States of America.
If you had the dubious pleasure of being a child in America in the early 1900’s life was not so wonderful, unless of course you happened to be born in a wealthy house hold. For most of the kids of that time living with suspicion and mistrusting most everyone was actually kind of smart. Kids had no protection and could be subjected to almost anything. Slavery, abuse, violence, and just about every kind of horror were casually overlooked because children were meant to be seen and not heard. For much of the known world this is still the case.
On the continent of Africa, for example, children are stolen from their families and assimilated into various terrorist organizations. They are abused and taught how to fire automatic weapons. Teaching them how to mindlessly kill happens in place of any formal schooling. Internet safety seems kind of silly for these large numbers of children.
It’s funny how the people of the 60s (DRUG AND SEX REVOLUTION) are now the ones telling us to be safe and watch out for the man next door…
I’m in agreement that social websites and facebook are a potential danger. But, I think it’s easy to be a little too cautious. Students are very smart and capable with technology, just careless. A little education goes along way if students are given some actual strategies to protect themselves. A friendly reminder 1 to 2 times a school year is probably all students will need, as long as the strategies and reminders stay current with technology.
I actually attending a Bullying seminar at Villa Roma and it’s really scaring how much someone can find out about you within 30 seconds of finding you online. They can talk to you in a chat room, then search additional information about you within the matter of minutes. I couldn’t believe just by telling someone your first name they can search to see if you have a facebook, blog, myspace acct, etc. If you give them any other information like what school you attend they can search that area and find out your parents names and address. By finding you on a blog or a social network they can find out your likes and dislikes. They can pretend to have the same likes and dislikes as you to keep you talking to them. It’s a dangerous world for kids, not only do they have to worry about strangers while they are outside of their house but they need to worry about them while they are in their house as well.
We had a similar assembly in our school. I think the kids were surprised to find out how quickly and easily someone could find information about you.
It is like we have to teach our kids street smarts, just in our own homes.
This was a very good video and it really makes me think. This is a new day in age where everything about me can be posted GLOBALLY instantly. What people forget just as the video states is that we give too much information. Social networking should work like any other relationship. You keep yourself guarded until you know there is trust. This is why internet safety training is very important. Not only for students, but faculty alike. One thing the video did not mention is how it can effect the students in the future. With social networks like facebook and myspace the idea of having a personal life is rare. Everyone can see all you post and most people post too much. I remember in college when an RA had her 21st birthday celebration in her dorm room and took pictures and later people posted it to facebook. There in the photos were underage students drinking with the label “So and so’s 21st party.” They handed the college the proof they needed to suspend the student. I think it’s important for everyone to realize how nice it is to have a personal life and how secrets are not problems when you are communicating with the entire world. You have no idea who could be watching.
Everyone still has a right to a personal life. DON’T USE FACEBOOK, TWITTER, MYSPACE, etc. Just don’t. No government is forcing us to set up an account… yet. And you’re not going to loose all your friends by not signing up. Oh, and if you do decide to sign up don’t accept to be friends with someone you NEVER met or are not good friends with. By the way, if you were good friends, I bet you’re not only talking through facebook anyways…
Now I’m not saying don’t use this stuff thats rather drastic. If you want to think the government is watching you (which they might be) then sure shut it all down and even throw out your cell phone because they can tap that too. All I am saying is be smart. You can use these things to stay in touch with your friends and family and it’s FINE. There is no harm in using anything with common sense. All I wanted to stress is know who is watching and be aware.
Just like real life, you never put out more information than you want people to know.
PS Stephen you will “lose” not loose your friends.
Many folks have forgotten that we Americans live in the post 9/11 United States of the misinformed. For 8 long years the illustrious dynamic duo, G W Bush and The Penguin Chaney, worked their crime fighting magic on anyone they could. They made sure that honesty is no longer the best policy and by God worked tirelessly to eliminate the illusion of personal privacy. Even though one of their most diabolical criminal enemies, the Riddler Al Gore, inventor of the Internet, was able to distract most of the misinformed public with all his climate change nonsense, the dynamic duo were able to personally profit from their cleverly created climate of fear. They were able to profoundly manipulate the air waves of the Internet and make sure that every secret no matter how small could be exploited. The masses would quickly feel safe under the watchful eyes of the US government. While millions upon millions of dollars were spent on National Security, billions were being stolen from the unsuspecting public. But hey, who cares if your son or daughter is being subjected to any Internet dangers, the private bank vaults of the dynamic duo are filled to capacity.
I personally do not and never will see the Emperor’s new clothing. I do not believe in disappearing Iraqi W M Ds. I honestly believe that G W’s first electoral win was rigged and I don’t believe that the man really had the smarts to be the president; the Penguin was really running the show. I ‘l say that quietly lest I be shot in the face with a barrel load of bird-shot, accidentally.
I know it’s a stretch but I also believe that if the government actually created the Internet then they should also be able to police it so that it is safe for little Billy and Jayne. Perhaps this could be possible but only if we Americans could educate ourselves to vote intelligence back into our system of government. But hey, if it ain’t broke it don’t need glue. Fool me twice shame on ….. You can lead some of the people all of the …..awe never mind!
Where the heck is my cape???
The new clothing changes from year to year even if the people underneath them do not.
this kills me. I love the way he described the lack of a firewall as the same as going on vacation and leaving the garage door open! Classic! once again, this is where I think technology is out of control. Too many developments, too quickly means…..no security! I think of how much effort and knowledge it takes for me to feel secure when I set up my home network, and I know enough to do it correctly. But what about poor Grandma and Grandpa who just plug and play? Just because it works does not mean it is safe. Just one more weakness to a capitalistic society. Who cares about you and your safety as long as you buy my product.
Are you selling something? LOL
I disagree with the statement that kids today have to be a lot more cautious and more aware of their surrounding world that we did, and/or children of 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years ago. It’s a unique problem but it does not make anymor eof a burden on kids. I actually think we tend to baby our children more than years ago. Didn’t it use to be 18, and you’re an adult? Over the years it’s being pushed further and further? 21 for drinking (many years ago, but the reasoning is younger people can’t handle alcohol) 21 now for credit cards (younger people can’t handle money). Use to be many people got married at 18, no the average age is hitting 30s (younger people no nothing of love, and if you’re are 18 and in love, you’re dumb and don’t know any better). The list can go on. Maybe part of the reason things there’s too much on kids shoulders is because instead of showing them how to contribute/work/live/be cautious in life, we set up walls and block it off to them. Other thing is, if kids need to know so much of the world around them today, how about we have a quiz and see if the can name 20 world leaders…