Alison and I took some shots of Travis in the park today on our way home. Click here to view the Flickr set.
]]>Alison and I took some shots of Travis in the park today on our way home. Click here to view the Flickr set.
]]>"...uses software to build online social networks for communities of people who share interests and activities or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others."Social networking websites are definitely here to stay, and already have a well-established foothold in the workplace and schoolyard. In the course of their growth they have also raised important issues surrounding identity, child/teen use and, of course, privacy. Common perceptions towards social networks sites lean towards the alarmist point of view, ie: that if your child is online, they are "in danger". And while there may indeed be some factual basis to support that attitude, there are things you can do to protect your children online and still enjoy the benefits of online social interaction. If you're comfortable with your kids using social networking sites, you may wish to consider the following points, and indeed discuss them with your children: Review websites' privacy policies Of particular importance, you need to know your rights as a parent to manage (or even delete) your child's online profile if they are younger than 13. (Facebook in particular frowns upon anyone signed up to their website who is under 13 and considers them in violation of their Terms of Use policy.) Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child's website. Most social networking sites have advanced privacy settings where users can lock away very specific parts of their information from casual passers-by. On Facebook and MySpace for example, the Privacy link is now part of their primary navigation menu, in the top-right of the page. Talk to your children about what information should be kept private Children may now be computer-savvy enough to create Powerpoint presentations, but may not realise the importance of not posting their age, hometown, etc. Look at the friend list Consider limiting the amount of 'friends' your child communicates with to people you are sure he or she already knows. Join your kids online Sign up for and use the same social networking sites your child is using. Make them aware of your presence and demonstrate good behaviour online. Know how your kids are getting online Apart from computers and cell phones, don't forget that modern games consoles like the Nintendo DS, Wii, Sony PSP and PS3 all offer internet access via wireless networks, but also have parental controls for you to limit and restrict their access. If you'd prefer your children not be online (but are concerned they may be anyway), consider:
More squirrel goodness from Hyde Park.
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