Tips for Safe Social Networking Use for Youth
By: J. Goedeken
Cell phones, tablets, and laptops create a world for mobile technology for many American teens and young adults alike. These devices’ capabilities with the internet are vital to many teens and young adults in America, unlike any other generation before them (Lenhart et al., 2010).
While all teens are likely internet users, it is believed 95% of older teens (age 14-17) are going online for a variety of reasons including accessing current events and political news, viewing books, clothing, music, health, dieting, fitness information and accessing social networks (Lenhart et al., 2010). Accessing some of the same information above, younger teens are slightly less likely to spend time on the internet, with 82% of 12 year olds and 92% of 13 year olds going online.
Youths’ lives are highly mobile, largely due to the use of cell phones and their vast capabilities. Many youth utilize their cell phone as a way to interact with others on social networking sites. Due to the time spent online and particularly, time spent in social networking sites, youth soon develop their ownonline personality. The mobility of social networking sites allows for continuous updating, changing, and viewing. This fluid nature creates an environment where youth are virtually never without communication with others and have unlimited access to countless sources of information (Stald, 2008).
With youth spending so much time “plugged in”, it is becoming increasingly important for them to understand the importance of having a safe online identity while using social networking sites. Many of the ideas shared in this article about youth being safe online mirror some of the same basic safety information taught to youth as children, but with instantaneous results. Youth can keep themselves safe by following a few simple guidelines.
1. Be Respectful and Responsible.
Everything posted is instantaneous and possibly not retractable. Be careful and courteous what you share. Keep in mind that what you share online can and will follow you offline. Just as in your offline life, you are also responsible for your actions online.
2. Know your privacy settings.
Before posting, become familiar with the settings on your social networking site account or profile.Social networking sites can constantly change how their sites handle privacy guidelines. Make sure you are informed and making good decisions about your account or profile settings
3. Offline and online relationships are connected.
Realize how your actions online can affect offline relationship and vice versa.
4. Review ‘friends’ or contact lists.
Make sure to only interact with people you actually know.
5. Protect yourself
Realize that what you post has the possibility to be viewed by a larger audience than you anticipate. Social networking users can typically control whom they are interacting with, but it is commonly out of a user’s control if other users spread your content. This includes text, images and videos. This can lead to potentially embarrassing and unsafe environments both off and online.
The list above is not all inclusive, as youth need to use common sense and make smart decisions when interacting with others online, particularly on social networking sites.
If used correctly, social networking sites can be a positive environment for youth. They provide a virtual environment for youth to test their own identities (both online and offline), practice social skills, and interact with others (Kosse, 2007). All of these activities are important to the natural process of youth development.
The Millennial generation, which are people who were born between 1982 and 1997, are the first people to grow up with computers and all the technology that make many things possible. Additionally, the technological advances only known to this generation create the virtual environment of achieving the important functions of youth development that other generations experienced in person-to-person atmospheres.
While social networking sites offer many advantages to youth and their development process, the disadvantages of using the sites deserve to be mentioned. Youth may be tempted to share more personal information online than they would during in-person interactions and tech savvy youth may be more inclined to use their hi-tech skills in lieu of making good, sound decisions while interacting on social networking sites (Kosse, 2007). When youth share information online, it remains online and available to a large audience for a long time. The effects of this information can be far-reaching. Examples include future employers, people whom youth may be in future professional or personal relationships. Information posted on social networking sites can have future implications if not monitored carefully. Furthermore, social networking sites are a venue where cyber-bullying and other risky behaviors can take place if proper monitoring techniques of youth using these sites are not in place (Kosse, 2007).
Social networking sites and ability to interact with others in a virtual and mobile environment can have advantages and disadvantages for youth. The tips for safe social networking use in this article are a good base for youth having a positive experience with social networking sites. While many sites allow youth to have their own account or profile, the importance of parental involvement with such accounts and online interaction cannot be overlooked.
References
Kosse, S.H. (2007). MySpace Is Also Their Space: Ideas for Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Predators on Social Networking Sites. Unpublished manuscript. Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., &Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults. Retrieved from Pew Internet & American Life project website: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx
Stald, G. (2008). Mobile Identity: Youth, Identity, and Mobile Communication Media. IT University of Copenhagen, Department of Innovative Communication, 143-164. doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.143
Links to related website resources:
http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.143
http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=susan_kosse
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/social-networking-tips
While all teens are likely internet users, it is believed 95% of older teens (age 14-17) are going online for a variety of reasons including accessing current events and political news, viewing books, clothing, music, health, dieting, fitness information and accessing social networks (Lenhart et al., 2010). Accessing some of the same information above, younger teens are slightly less likely to spend time on the internet, with 82% of 12 year olds and 92% of 13 year olds going online.
Youths’ lives are highly mobile, largely due to the use of cell phones and their vast capabilities. Many youth utilize their cell phone as a way to interact with others on social networking sites. Due to the time spent online and particularly, time spent in social networking sites, youth soon develop their ownonline personality. The mobility of social networking sites allows for continuous updating, changing, and viewing. This fluid nature creates an environment where youth are virtually never without communication with others and have unlimited access to countless sources of information (Stald, 2008).
With youth spending so much time “plugged in”, it is becoming increasingly important for them to understand the importance of having a safe online identity while using social networking sites. Many of the ideas shared in this article about youth being safe online mirror some of the same basic safety information taught to youth as children, but with instantaneous results. Youth can keep themselves safe by following a few simple guidelines.
1. Be Respectful and Responsible.
Everything posted is instantaneous and possibly not retractable. Be careful and courteous what you share. Keep in mind that what you share online can and will follow you offline. Just as in your offline life, you are also responsible for your actions online.
2. Know your privacy settings.
Before posting, become familiar with the settings on your social networking site account or profile.Social networking sites can constantly change how their sites handle privacy guidelines. Make sure you are informed and making good decisions about your account or profile settings
3. Offline and online relationships are connected.
Realize how your actions online can affect offline relationship and vice versa.
4. Review ‘friends’ or contact lists.
Make sure to only interact with people you actually know.
5. Protect yourself
Realize that what you post has the possibility to be viewed by a larger audience than you anticipate. Social networking users can typically control whom they are interacting with, but it is commonly out of a user’s control if other users spread your content. This includes text, images and videos. This can lead to potentially embarrassing and unsafe environments both off and online.
The list above is not all inclusive, as youth need to use common sense and make smart decisions when interacting with others online, particularly on social networking sites.
If used correctly, social networking sites can be a positive environment for youth. They provide a virtual environment for youth to test their own identities (both online and offline), practice social skills, and interact with others (Kosse, 2007). All of these activities are important to the natural process of youth development.
The Millennial generation, which are people who were born between 1982 and 1997, are the first people to grow up with computers and all the technology that make many things possible. Additionally, the technological advances only known to this generation create the virtual environment of achieving the important functions of youth development that other generations experienced in person-to-person atmospheres.
While social networking sites offer many advantages to youth and their development process, the disadvantages of using the sites deserve to be mentioned. Youth may be tempted to share more personal information online than they would during in-person interactions and tech savvy youth may be more inclined to use their hi-tech skills in lieu of making good, sound decisions while interacting on social networking sites (Kosse, 2007). When youth share information online, it remains online and available to a large audience for a long time. The effects of this information can be far-reaching. Examples include future employers, people whom youth may be in future professional or personal relationships. Information posted on social networking sites can have future implications if not monitored carefully. Furthermore, social networking sites are a venue where cyber-bullying and other risky behaviors can take place if proper monitoring techniques of youth using these sites are not in place (Kosse, 2007).
Social networking sites and ability to interact with others in a virtual and mobile environment can have advantages and disadvantages for youth. The tips for safe social networking use in this article are a good base for youth having a positive experience with social networking sites. While many sites allow youth to have their own account or profile, the importance of parental involvement with such accounts and online interaction cannot be overlooked.
References
Kosse, S.H. (2007). MySpace Is Also Their Space: Ideas for Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Predators on Social Networking Sites. Unpublished manuscript. Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., &Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults. Retrieved from Pew Internet & American Life project website: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults.aspx
Stald, G. (2008). Mobile Identity: Youth, Identity, and Mobile Communication Media. IT University of Copenhagen, Department of Innovative Communication, 143-164. doi: 10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.143
Links to related website resources:
http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/dmal.9780262524834.143
http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=susan_kosse
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/social-networking-tips