Social Networks

For those who are not familiar with social networking websites...they are websites "offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos for teenagers and adults internationally" (Wikipedia). (I tried to explain it in my own words but after about 3 paragraphs of rambling, I thought I would just look up the definition and give credit to someone else).

This post is about parents being involved with their child's online activity including any profiles that he/she might have on any social networking website. (I am only familiar with MySpace and Facebook). And by being involved, I mean physically looking at your child's profile, knowing his/her password, and randomly checking when your children aren't expecting it.

And to those parents who think it's invading your child's privacy, get over yourself! I know this sounds blunt and forward, but it is a serious issue. I don't understand a parent's justification when "privacy" is a reason not to be involved. You are the parents, it IS your responsibility to be involved, because if you're not, I guarantee, someone else will gladly take that responsibility and the outcome can be tragic.

There are predators lurking and stalking on innocent girls and boys. There are teenage girls that will post half-nude if not completely nude pictures of themselves all for reason of attention, popularity, teasing, to be apart fo the crowd. Boyfriends will post nude pictures of their girlfriends on their profile for all the world to see as their "prize trophy". And, yes, this includes "church kids", your next door neighbors and even maybe your child. Their friends are doing it and getting all kinds of attention...and when I say "all kinds", I mean all kinds. Attention from sex predators, attention from the older brother of a friend, attention from the father of a friend, attention from complete strangers. The pictures can even be dowloaded without your knowledge or permission and posted on other websites including child pornography sites.

Did you know that MySpace and Facebook will not give the parent the password to their child's profile. Nope, not for any circumstance, unless they have since changed their policy. It wasn't until recently did the courts have to step in and make MySpace hand over any information shared on the profiles of sex predators. SEX PREDATORS... and to think, parents don't want to invade their child's privacy.

Parents, your child may be so innocent to the point that they don't know the dangers that may be around the corner in cyberspace, that's why you love them enough to protect them and watch over them. That means sometimes invading their privacy. That also means making it your responsibility to learn all there is to know about the web and what your children do on it.

It's the same principle of teaching your children to drive and to respect guns. You wouldn't give your child a car without you knowing how to drive it first, right? Why not? You know it's dangerous. You wouldn't hand your child a gun and say "have at it". If not monitored properly and responsibly, both these can hurt your children and even kill them. It's the same way with the Internet and social networking.

Not all aspects of social networks are evil. I have a profile on both MySpace and Facebook. I have enjoyed re-uniting with high school and college friends. I have enjoyed seeing pictures of their families and receiving fun comments and messages via these social networks. Social networks can be fun but at the same time they can be dangerous, vulgar and obscene if abused and not monitored.

Parents, get involved. Invade your child's privacy, be aware, learn, be responsible for no other reason than because you love them.

Until next time, HB