MySpace vs Facebook
September 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Did you know that U.S. Teens Prefer MySpace and YouTube to Facebook?
As of June 2009, US teens still prefer MySpace according to a study done by Habbo, a youth-aimed virtual world. The study quizzed 112,000 teens ages 11-19 from more than 30 countries, including 4,500 teens in the U.S. Facebook came in third as the most popular Web site among U.S. teens, up from fifth last year. Globally, however, YouTube and Facebook rank , No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, with MySpace coming in at No. 4, the survey said. So, what are some of the differences in the 2 social sites and why might kids like MySpace more than Facebook.
1-MySpace allows for complete profile customization so kids can express themselves creatively. They can design their profiles using HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) so that it represents their image or style in a very unique way. Facebook pages are all the same.
2-MySpace allows you to select a favorite song that plays on your profile. Facebook doesn’t. Music is so much a part of the teen experience that alone makes MySpace attractive.
3-Kids still rule on MySpace. Parents, while they may logon to MySpace to check on the kids, in most cases they aren’t there to socialize. Facebook is a different story. Parents and grandparents of teens are among the many new users establishing an active presence on facebook. Kids want the independence-the separate space- that MySpace still provides.
It is important to note that many kids maintain multiple profiles across multiple sites. Some profiles are more active than others. It is also common for kids to have profiles that are parent approved and others that are unknown to parents.
Action 1: Talk with your children about which sites they like best and why. Remember that kids migrate from site to site and profile to profile. They will spend time where their friends are. New sites are added every day. The information you discover today may change next month.
Action 2: Add a reminder to your calendar talk with your children about this subject again in 3 months.
Taming the Technology Monster in Your Home
September 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment
In the not so distant past, the number one internet safety rule was this: Keep the computer in a central location in your home. If we applied this rule in our home, our living would be the storage location for: 5 laptops, 5 mobile phones, and an Xbox 360. Things have changed.
Mobile computing is here. Schools commonly distribute or require laptops as part of the curriculum and many teens carry Iphones or smart phones that possess all the capabilities of a laptop. Centralized computing is not realistic.
So, what is parent to do to tame the technology monster in the home?
Action 1: Answer the question “What kind of supervision does my child need at this stage in life?”
The answer will depend on the age, maturity and circumstances of each individual child.
There many options available for managing technology in the home now.
- Internet providers like Cox Communications provide Parental Controls at the internet service level.
- Computer operating systems like Windows provides user level control (time limits) for internet safety.
- There are numerous software programs available for purchase that enable you to set boundaries on when and where your child can go on the internet. (Filters and Time Boundaries)
- There are software programs that allow you to virtually look over the shoulder of your child when they are on the computer in another room. (Monitoring in real time or Recording for later Review)
- And, last but not least, you can establish family guild that provide a system of protection for kids. Rules should address time limits, respect of others, responsibility, privacy, and integrity. See the Family Guidelines Tip for more info.
Action 2: Which options will you select to provide a safe mobile computing environment in your home?
Safety Tips for Mobile Internet Use
September 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Social Networking goes Mobile
Talk with your kids about these five safety tips.
- Don’t text (or surf) and drive.
According to SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, instant and text messaging while driving leads the list as the biggest distraction while driving. When it comes to teen driving, put the danger of text-messaging while driving right up there with drunken driving as Public Enemies No. 1 and 1A on the nation’s roads. Read more: http://tinyurl.com/nn5w26 - Think before you upload photos or video from mobile phone to the Internet. Mobile phones allow instantaneous sharing of media between teens. Some of the most serious teen issues involving mobile phone use emerge from the ability to share photos and video. Example: Child pornography is against the law. Kids under 18 who share nude photos of themselves or others can be convicted of possession of and distribution of child pornography. Talk to your child about these serious issues.
- Don’t store passwords to social sites on your phone. If your phone is lost or stolen and your passwords are on the phone, your personal information will be available and your social sites will be vulnerable to take over by a stranger.
- Social mapping – Announcing where you are may not be a good idea. Smart phones are now capable of mapping where you are so others can find and meet up with you. This information in the hands of a predator is extremely dangerous.
- Texting/Facebooking strangers – Don’t share personal info or talk about sex with strangers. Don’t text someone you don’t know. Don’t answer or respond to messages that include sexual content.
Logon to your Kids Wireless Life (Early Elementary, Tweens, Teens)
September 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Many parents come to my seminars hoping for an easy and absolute answer to the MySpace problem. I wish I could offer guarantees for solving the many MySpace problems arising in homes across the country but parenting questions typically aren’t easy or absolute. What I can guarantee is that the very best defense for your child against online threats is you. I want to challenge every parent to logon to your kids’ life. How do you do that? Well, it depends on your kid! If your daughter hangs out on MySpace, then you will need to get familiar with her MySpace profile, the tools she uses and the friends she connects with. If your son competes on Xbox Live, then you will want to get involved in his gaming environment and see who his competitors are. For young kids, you will be visiting sites like ClubPenguin.com or Webkinz.com along with your child. The age, gender and personality of your child and the current state of the parent/child relationship will affect how to get involved.
Facebook Privacy Settings
September 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Facebook Privacy Settings
Teach your kids to keep personal information private on Facebook and other social sites. Go through the Privacy Settings screens together so both of you understand the options and discuss the importance of keeping them secure. I suggest setting Basic Info on teen profiles to Friends Only so that non-friends are not allowed to browse your teens profile. In Contact Information area, teach your child not to publish contact info at all unless it is required as is the case for email address. The email address visibility should be set to No One. To find the Privacy Settings screens:
- Login to Facebook
- Go to the Account Settings menu at the top right of screen
- Choose Privacy Settings from the drop down menu
- Choose Profile Settings on the page that loads
- Then, you will see the Basic and Contact Information screens shown here.
Figures 1 and 2 demonstrate the Basic settings configured to Friends Only and the Contact Info to No One. Older teens may want or need to open up some of these settings, but starting a younger teen with these settings locked down is advisable.
Action: Logon to Facebook with your child and configure the settings appropriately.
Basic Privacy Settings on Facebook -Figure 1
Basic Privacy Settings on Facebook – Figure 2
Facebook Privacy Settings
