Myspace, Blogs and Chat: A Parent’s Guide Presented by Angela Semifero, East Lansing Public Library

Keeping Up is Hard to Do Kids go on the Internet without us. The Internet is increasingly portable. Kids know more than we do. Anyone can post anything. It is difficult to balance the need for self-expression and privacy with the need for safety and security.

Kids go on the Internet without us.

The Internet is increasingly portable.

Kids know more than we do.

Anyone can post anything.

It is difficult to balance the need for self-expression and privacy with the need for safety and security.

Definitions Blog Social Networking Site Chat Forum or Discussion Board

Blog

Social Networking Site

Chat

Forum or Discussion Board

Pros and Cons of Online Communities Positives Sharing information Connecting with people who share your interests Learning new ideas Socializing Negatives Loss of Privacy Lack of in-person interaction Connecting with people you may not want to connect with Content may not be appropriate

Positives

Sharing information

Connecting with people who share your interests

Learning new ideas

Socializing

Negatives

Loss of Privacy

Lack of in-person interaction

Connecting with people you may not want to connect with

Content may not be appropriate

Livejournal Usually used as an online diary, but some have specific topic focuses. Book Review Blog Web diary Pro-Anorexia Blog

Usually used as an online diary, but some have specific topic focuses.

Book Review Blog

Web diary

Pro-Anorexia Blog

Myspace Includes Profiles Blogs Music Events Bulletins Instant Messaging Videos Groups

Includes

Profiles

Blogs

Music

Events

Bulletins

Instant Messaging

Videos

Groups

Good and Bad Examples Good Examples Jane Austen John Green, Author Sting Graduating Class Evolutionary Psychology Group Contra Dancing Group Private Profile Bad Examples Too much information Too much info with pictures Illegal Activity I Hate Mr. Harris Group

Good Examples

Jane Austen

John Green, Author

Sting

Graduating Class

Evolutionary Psychology Group

Contra Dancing Group

Private Profile

Bad Examples

Too much information

Too much info with pictures

Illegal Activity

I Hate Mr. Harris Group

Facebook Content College and High School Students The Wall Newsfeeds Courses Examples Normal Profile (relatively) Address Phone number and address

Content

College and High School Students

The Wall

Newsfeeds

Courses

Examples

Normal Profile (relatively)

Address

Phone number and address

Flickr A site for uploading photos. Examples MSU Symphony Orchestra Wedding Photos Aviation Group

A site for uploading photos.

Examples

MSU Symphony Orchestra

Wedding Photos

Aviation Group

Youtube A site which allows the uploading of videos. Some videos are removed for copyright infringement. Science Project for Homeschoolers World War II Tony Awards Clip of Wicked Video Blog Popular from Wicked – Home Video

A site which allows the uploading of videos. Some videos are removed for copyright infringement.

Science Project for Homeschoolers

World War II

Tony Awards Clip of Wicked

Video Blog

Popular from Wicked – Home Video

Forums and Discussion Boards Gaming Boards Television Discussions Book Discussions General Social Groups, wedding discussions, health, etc.

Gaming Boards

Television Discussions

Book Discussions

General Social Groups, wedding discussions, health, etc.

Safety Tips Make sure personal information is not given in a profile or screen name. Passwords are not to be shared. Discuss privacy settings on your child’s accounts. Remind you child that once something is posted, it can’t be taken back.

Make sure personal information is not given in a profile or screen name.

Passwords are not to be shared.

Discuss privacy settings on your child’s accounts.

Remind you child that once something is posted, it can’t be taken back.

Internet Security Use anti-virus software Be wary of e-mail attachments Be wary of “phishing” Update your computer Back up your data Consider installing a firewall

Use anti-virus software

Be wary of e-mail attachments

Be wary of “phishing”

Update your computer

Back up your data

Consider installing a firewall

Questions and Discussion

Questions and Discussion