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Updated: 9:32 PM Apr 26, 2008
Can MySpace and Facebook Help Your Child?
Many parents are worried about their child signing on to websites like MySpace or Facebook, but they'll be happy to know there's actually some good that can come from these sites. Posted: 9:32 PM Apr 26, 2008Reporter: Sam Provenzano Email Address: sam.provenzano@wbko.com |
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4 Comments | Poll Question |
Agree. MySpace has a place to enter which High School kids attend, and then they also have a default picture - often trying to "look grown" and "sexy" … so now the preditor knows which school they attend and has their photo! Target! As for me, I don’t allow my children to have My Space or any other social networking accounts at all. I constantly struggle with the balance of watching out for my kids when they go online. I even istalled internet filter Ez Internet Timer http://www.internettimer.net It helps me control Internet usage for my kids. So no, as long as I personally am responsible for what my children do.
I gave this article to my two teens...I think MySpace and Facebook CAN be helpful--both my teens are a bit shy, but put them behind a computer....they can talk for hours---and recently they have become more outgoing as well because of the social networking world. I do worry about them being bullied online though........an article about that could speak volumes.
I think the social networking sites CAN be good for teens and even pre-teen kids. Most of their friends are probably using these sites, so they want to be on them too. Kids can meet other kids that they did not know before. Even kids that go to their own school...it gives them a chance to branch out a little. The drawback is that when parents do not monitor their kids' activities. Kids can easily be drawn out of the social networks into real life danger. It should always be the parent's decision to allow or not allow social networking. If you choose to allow them to join a social network, you better take the responsibility to monitor your children's activities. I think it's also important to add that I know of at least two of my seventeen year old daughter's friends that have social networking profiles that their parents do not know about.
Sorry but MY SPACE is not a "safe place". Children need to express themselves properly! Not in a world where you do not really know who the people are, names ages and gender Talk to your kids, spend time with them and buy them an old fashioned diary to write in. Do NOT snoop unless you fear your child is in serious danger. Just watch the news and see how many runaways there are that involve myspace or facebook! Then there have been the attacks and even suicides related to myspace. As a mom of 8 my space, facebook and even online chats are prohibited (for adults and children). IF you let your children online have the computer in the kitchen or living room. Mom and dad are to have all passwords, to every account, no exceptions. Make an "emails are not private rule". Finally check your history regularly. Parents also need to be careful of cell phones, especially those that can send and receive photos. children are sending and/or receiving photos that will haunt them someday