I just saw this. I think some politicians are going to be talking to their kids tonight. Venture at your own risk because some images may be considered inappropriate.
http://www.rightangleblog.com/story/jennifer_brunners_son_on_facebook
In politics? Talk to your kid about facebook and myspace
By hellboy - Posted on April 5th, 2007
kids put a lot of questionable things in their blogs, face books, etc. without thinking how far reaching it can be. I would bet that most kids are just goofing off, direct this stuff to their friends for comments,and assume no harm done. Many kids are (or have) learning that there can be terrible consequenses - their posts are not private (which they knew but ignore), having mom & dad pissed at them can often be the least of the consequenses. In his defense - he's a college kid who isn't doing anything that a lot of kids do. Because of his mom's position, yes, he should temper what he posts out of respect.But there are far worse blogs out there - this is small potatoes compared to what a lot of kids put out there.
...all parents. Such pages can be used against you in many other ways - job searches, by people you've upset, etc...
I am, of course, very biased in favor of my own lil' darlings. However, when I saw a news show on this, I made both of the children that use facebook, myspace and AIM log on and share with me what was going on.
Now there wasn't anything as horrible as some examples, but very bad language -and my son had posted his first name, last name, city he lives in and school. Dumb move.
We've gotten it all cleaned up - both kids have a net tracking system on their pc's. (Yes, even the one in college. I bought the laptop and that was one of the conditions of the purchase).
I'm not too scared of what my kids will do - but I wouldn't let just anybody talk to them on the street or on the phone - so I wonder why I ever did on the pc?!!! Was stupid.
A lot of kids are finding out the hard way, how damaging their posts can be. I think a lot of kids simply don't think ahead to who or how many people will be reading or seeing it, don't think of the consequenses, or how it can make somebody else feel. Like that American Idol girl - she was just goofing off with her girlfriends (boob & panties pics) & said that it was "private". Now she's learned the hard way, that nothing on the internet is private. And what an embarrassing thing to have your parents see. (I know that I'd be morified if my father saw me in poses like that). My daughter has shown me several posts & pics some of her friends have put up & I was stunned. I could tell by the posts, that these kids just feel like they're talking to their friends, and a lot of what they say is embellished upon I think for effect. I told my daughter a long time ago - please, do not ever have me find something disqusting or embarrassing about you on these places (and she's 24 yrs old & I still tell her that). She hasn't so far (crosses fingers & toes). But some kids just seem to feel such ease at posting very personal information. My kids were lectured when they were very young (when we got a computer) to never give out last names, addresses, phone numbers. My kids also know that I'm nosy enough, & find them interesting & fun enough,& like their friends enough, that I may browse their spaces sometimes. So far, I havent been freaked out by MY kids, but I have with a few of their acquaintences.
I myself use Myspace as a way to keep in touch with long distance friends, share pictures of our families, updates on our lives, etc. However, when I did a search of people who were fellow high school alums, I was very disturbed at the young kids' pages I found. Some of these kids I remember as being little toddlers and now there's pics of them smoking pot, wearing next to nothing, talking about their sexcapades... yuck. I don't have any kids of my own yet but it frightens me to think of what the Internet will be like when they are old enough. I can't imagine what high school would have been like if Myspace was around when I was in school. It can be used pretty cruelly.
It's hard to make the Internet forget. My first Internet postings from 1992/3 are still available directly from Google. Anything I've regretted 15 years ago will likely continue to be regretted for an indeterminate time to come.
Children should be aware as you've advised: Be aware that what you say will be referenced years from now by neighbors, agents, employers, lovers, burglars, etc. A good policy to follow is to divide your concerns into one or more online personas. I post in many online personas myself; I use my "concerned citizen" persona for SwampBubbles, which is close to what I am, but is still not completely myself. Children not only should use such compartmentalization to protect themselves (since it's just not the business of a prospective employer about your private life, etc.), but also to explore other viewpoints by adopting them in whole or part. (S