There are all kinds of social media out there. (My personal favorite is StumbleUpon.) However, the only social media that my kids ever talk about are Facebook and MySpace. In fact, those are the only social media that I’ve ever heard any kids talk about…
As a mom, I have to tell you that social media for kids makes me VERY, VERY nervous. Despite the fact that the news often carries stories about how various social media companies will do a better job of protecting our kids, I have to admit that I still don’t feel completely comfortable with it for kids and teens.
What do you think? Is social media safe for our kids? What Internet safety precautions do you take with your family?
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
7 responses so far ↓
1 MyStarbucks // Oct 17, 2007 at
I feel the same way. I have two teenagers and just recently allowed my oldest to join facebook. He loves it and I actually have learned quite a bit about it from him. I use Stumble Upon and Linked In mostly. I had the same concerns as you about the safety and so I told him that he is not allowed to be friends with anyone he does not know. Also, I told him that I will have the password and be checking his profile whenever I deem necessary. Of course, this makes him totally mad because at 14 he feels he needs some sort of privacy. Unfortunately while he lives under my roof, and I am paying for the internet access he will obey my rules and if he does not then no Facebook account. It is as simple as that. If he wants privacy then he can go into the bathroom, lock the door and go poop! As far as the internet goes, I keep a close eye and monitor everything my kids are doing. They don’t get that it’s for their safety but someday they will and for now I have peace of mind.
2 Nikki // Oct 18, 2007 at
I too am concerned but I probably am in the minority here… I tried to talk my son into a myspace page. But he would have nothing of it. I thought it would be a way to keep in touch with cousins his age who have emails and myspace pages also as well as friends from school (He is not a popular boy to begin with and often wonders how he can make more friends). I suggested a myspace page because it is the best way for me to monitor what he does and who he talks to. Like mystarbucks, I would have access to pages and emails but he declined. Said he wasn’t interested. He would rather play a couple of online games when I let him and that is it. Surprising but I am a little glad he chose to do his own thing.
3 Paula Mooney // Oct 18, 2007 at
Yeah, MySpace.com’s design gets on my nerves, but I’m learning.
In fact, I was just able to hook up with a young man on there and encourage and help him start his own website about his interests. It’s a gateway to bring people closer to God, so it’s not all evil.
I just think more of us Christians need to be on there as well.
They are all just tools, like TV. They can be used for good or evil.
For the parents, there’s a MySpace tracker that lets you see all the communication and stuff your kids are sending and receiving — so I’m all for spying in that instance!
4 Laura // Oct 18, 2007 at
Thanks!
MyStarbucks, I totally agree with you. You should be able to check his account
Nikki! Personally I think it’s great that your son doesn’t want to go along with the crowd. Hopefully that will help him avoid negative peer pressure too. Of course, I understand you wanting him to have more friends.
Hi Paula! Thanks for leaving the note about the MySpace tracker – I had never heard of it before.
5 Mihaela "Mig" Lica // Oct 19, 2007 at
No Laura, social media is not safe for kids. With the amount of predators on the lose, you should worry even more. Facebook and MySpace are the ponds where they operate. If you plan letting your kids make accounts there, you should really sit down and educate them in respect to what could happen there. Tell them never to give a real name, never to give the address and private telephone number and the list could go on. You wrote once, at Opinion Mom, about PAPA. That’s what PAPA is all about. The effort of making social media safer.
6 James Chartrand - JCM Enterprises // Oct 28, 2007 at
There’s a huge issue being completely missed in the debate on the safety of social media sites.
Ever see a smoker who has kids? The person puffs away, lifting cigarette after cigarette to their mouth, and tells his or her young ones, “Don’t smoke, honey. It’s bad for you.”
If we as adults are all using social media networking to boost our businesses and increase traffic to our sites, what message does that give to our kids?
“Don’t do what I’m doing, honey. It’s bad for you.”
Something to think about…
7 Laura // Oct 30, 2007 at
Hi Mig and James!
Mig – I probably need to follow through with another post on PAPA. There’s so much to do … I do tell my kids never to put up real information.
James – You actually have an excellent point. What’s a parent to do, though, when even the schools are seemingly encouraging it?