To be honest, I wasn't comfortable when I was checking out the 3 mentioned social networking sites. I felt as though it was meant to meet people (dating) or to begin a physical relationship. I didn't get the positive feeling I thought I would get. Adults can make their own decisions, however, I don't believe I would want my own children on these sites at this time. I just think that there's too much danger involved. I think I'll have to explore this topic further in order to gain more of an understanding of why people have such a need to connect online. What do you think?
**Beatrice**
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Funny that you mention this. I was just trying to set up a myspace account today. I have succumb to the pressure. I sing and everytime I meet people and give them my card they ask for my myspace, so I'm giving in. So, I was experiencing some technical difficulty so I called my nephew. He's only 16 and he has a myspace account. Both his parents know. I keep telling him he's supposed to be 18, but he insists that plenty of people who are not 18 have one. His little brother, my other nephew, has one too. He's only 12.
I think part of us needs to accept that this is the wave of the future. These sites can be used for many purposes, not just dating. You do have the option of setting your profile to private. This does provide some measure of safety. I think we also need to teach children to be Internet savy with regards to safety and appropriateness. I think, however, that they should build in some parental controls and allow children to join, since they are doing it on the sly anyway.
I was astounded when I read that you were supposed to be 18 years old to join because I've heard about kids in the local high school and grammar school who have accounts. How much information do kids really divulge and do they think they're corresponding with other kids or people much older than they are? Can parents log in on their accounts and read past messages? Thanks for your insight, Thea!
**Beatrice**
I agree with both of you: the social networking world is ripe with the potential of abuse, but also a growing reality for digital natives, like our children. Both of my kids have Myspace and Facebook accounts. Emma is 17 and Sean 15 -- I know he's too young. I know I am taking a risk. I've watched them view their pages with their friends, and it really is where they go to "get to know" someone, check who is on their baseball team, see the latest pictures from the party they went to, read about what their friends think about a movie, share music . . . it goes on and on.
Just as we are sharing our thoughts and getting more comfortable with blogging, I predict that over time facebook and myspace will become second nature to us as well.
I agree that we have to make sure that just as our kids don't talk to strangers in the "real world", they have to be savy enough to identify them digitally as well.
Your points are well-taken, Julie!
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