Dana Boyd's article really struck a chord with me.
http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2007/edition-13/social-network-sites-public-private-or-what/
Teenagers today don't really worry about on-line privacy. When asked if they knew that anyone could access their profiles on-line, they replied "but why would they?" That concerns me because they don't realize that invisible audiences look up profiles of job or college applicants, lurkers might follow friends of friends to find juicy gossip, etc. What you say or post sticks around, it never goes away. Also, anything on-line can be copyable and searchable. Today, I came across an AP article Researchers Claim They've Cracked the Social Security Number Code which told how Carnegie Melon researchers could predict SS #'s by looking at the birth dates and hometowns listed on Facebook profiles. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10280614-83.html
These social networking sites are great and a big part of teen life. As educators, we need to teach students media literacy, on-line safety and responsibility. -quite a challenge!
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen
3 days ago
2 comments:
I haven't talked to enough teenagers but I do know a number of 5th graders who have joined Facebook and a few with the approval of their parents. This concerns me not just because of their age but their maturity level and knowing what to share and not share.
Mark
This concerns me too, but hopefully if we teach them the dangers.... We all know, however, that teens do know danger, they just never think it will happen to them in any situation. My 13 yr. old son just got a facebook and I'm thrilled for him because as soon as he got it, a good friend that had moved away started communicating with him. He even got a chance to see him when he came up to Ohio a few weeks ago. They will get a facebook no matter what so we MUST teach them and that's all there is to it. :)
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