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mommyplus3 -> RE: internet safety (7/12/2008 8:33:12 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: zamdad
I'm sort of baffled as to how this conversation became about using names and such. I get to talk to parents all the time about their kids. I am continually amazed at how many kids have Myspace, Facebook, Bebo, and other social networking accounts that the parents either know nothing about or, that the parents have never looked at. I responded to a call from a parent in which the dad reported that his 15 year old son had been threatened by another boy. I asked the kid if the threats were made verbally, face to face, if they were on his phone or in an email. The kid said they wre on his Myspace page. I asked if they were public comments. he said they were in the email of his Myspace. I then asked the kid if the threats were a response to the public writings he had posted on his Myspace page. The kid looked at me like, "How did you know about my Myspace?" The dad flipped out and said, "I thought you were doing innocent stuff on there." The dad then revealed that he knew the kid had an account, but he had never looked at it. I happened to look at it because the dad had reported the kid missing a few weeks before and didn't give us a picture. I went to Myspace, typed in his name and found him. His profile picture showed an angry young man and his comments combined with the picture conjured up an image of the next school shooter.
Seems to me, as parents, if we are going to allow our kids access to the internet, we better be looking at what they're doing and where they're going as well as who they are hanging out with. We can use social networking sites as another means of communication with them. They may say they want privacy as teens, but they really do want us to be involved. They want to know we love them enough to know what's going on. If we're involved in their lives, we'll know when some pervert is trying to stalk them on line or in real life. We'll know what makes them tick and where their hearts are. And, when talking with other parents, encourage them to get involved and learn how to use the computer.
i totally agree with parents need to be involved and aware as to what their children are doing online.
the reason that this topic became about names and other personal info, is that i am trying to wrap my mind around how those, who can be most against having a child on myspace, etc, can post personal info without worry. i am not criticizing anyone - just trying to understand.
for us, it is a family hard and steadfast rule that no info be posted online about any of us. even my sil, who has a myspace to share pics of her son with family members, does not post any pics or info about my kids. i know that online can be a scary place, but that doesn't mean it always is - it can be beneficial as well (just look at this site). i allow my children to have myspace, im, email, etc. i DO keep a watch on what they're doing...and they do know not to post any info. please don't blast me for this...but i would feel hypocritical if i posted personal info, but told them not to. lead by example, kwim? anyway, it is just my opinion...and something i'm trying to understand. sorry if i offended anyone, as that is never my intention. [:D]
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