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Ask Dr. Sharon

Blogs, Bulletin Boards & Bullying

Watch this video to learn how to talk to your children about the dangers of posting personal information online and the effect of cyberbullying on others.

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quoteAlready college admission personnel, potential employers, and others are routinely searching blogs and social networking sites as a background check for potential candidates. quote

Key Points

key
  • Risks include providing too much personal information, and the anonymity, access, and opportunity for people who would harm children to search for and contact potential victims.
  • Online diaries and social networking sites are a popular way teens connect with one another. There are several benefits to social networking, but the reality is that there are also risks.
  • Students have been suspended from school and lost potential scholarships because of details revealed on their blogs.
  • Occasionally, teens will post messages on public bulletin boards that hurt, threaten, or attempt to get revenge against other teens, or even falsify information about adults they know. Far from being a harmless prank, this is considered cyberbullying, and it could lead to harm for the victim and serious consequences for the one who initiated the posting.

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Parent Action Steps

parents
  • Caution your teens about behavior, both on- and offline, and discuss the consequences to others and themselves. What seems cool today may come back to haunt your child later, whether it’s giving out his or her personal information on a blog or posting a harmful message on a bulletin.
  • Watch real-life stories with your teen to discuss the possible consequences of his or her online choices.
  • To learn more about blogging or social networking sites, read about the dangers and access safety tips for parents, children, and teens. See if you know the answers to the "Blog Beware" quiz and test your child or teen.
  • Safety pledges or acceptable use policies can help provide clear guidelines for safer Internet use. NetSmartz recommends using the Internet safety pledge to promote safety discussions and create safer boundaries. Posted near the computer, the pledge will serve as a reminder to children and teens of how to be safer when using the Internet.
  • Learn commonly used chat lingo. POS means "parent over shoulder." LMIRL means "let's meet in real life."
  • A study commissioned by Cox Communications and NCMEC found that 61% of 13 to 17 year olds have a personal profile on sites such as Myspace, Friendster, or Xanga; 14% have actually met face-to-face with a person they met on the Internet. The survey also found that families talking to their teens about Internet safety helps reduce some youth exposure to potential threats and encourage teens to make safer online decisions.