web 2.0 – talking points for children
Web 2.0 sites like MySpace and Bebo are very popular with children – but the ease and attractiveness of them can obscure the dangers. Here are some talking points to raise awareness of the main issues with children.
- Remember, depending on your settings anyone anywhere may be able to see what you’ve posted – even potential employers.
- Be careful posting content that could tell people where you live (photos, personal
- information like your favourite park, or where you go to school).
- Never post pictures that embarrass others or show them partially clothed – this is especially true of images taken of children.
- Sending your photo to chat rooms is also not a good idea and can be dangerous.
- Treat others as you would have them treat you, politely and with respect.
- Think about who you share information with – a ‘friend of a friend’ may be no friend to you.
- Never reply to messages from people you don’t know.
- Report anything odd or disturbing to an adult, and to the website itself.
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social networking – dangers
Web 2.0 sites like MySpace are also described as social-networking sites. People, and particularly children, use their sites to list their likes and dislikes, write blogs, and invite messages from other users. It can be a way of finding like-minded friends.
posting on the web – dangers
Nothing you post on the internet is private. Even removing a posting or a web site doesn’t guarantee it hasn't already been copied and posted elsewhere. Because of this, it’s very important to think carefully about what you post.
making social networking safer
Social networking sites are now so prevalent, it’s difficult to completely control your child’s access to them. Instead, it’s a good idea to get to know how these kinds of sites work, and reach an understanding with your child that now and then you will check on who they are in contact with and what they’re posting.
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web 2.0
in the news
Networkers in growing danger of identity theft
Experts are warning internet users to be more careful with their private information after secret code from the popular social-networking site Facebook was published on the internet. Read on (The Guardian)
Keep track of your kids on MySpace and Facebook
When my daughter was twelve she started using MySpace, one of the most popular of the social network sites that have attracted millions of teenage users around the world. Read on (BBC Webwise)
Networking... or NOTworking
Sharing your personal life online... you never know who could be checking out your profile. Read on (The Sun)
