For teens, MySpace is a popular online hangout because the site makes it easy for them to express themselves and keep in touch with their friends.
As a parent, please consider the following guidelines to help your children make safe decisions about using online communities.
* Talk to your kids about why they use MySpace, how they communicate with others and how they represent themselves on MySpace.
* Kids shouldn't lie about how old they are. MySpace members must be 14 years of age or older. We take extra precautions to protect our younger members and we are not able to do so if they do not identify themselves as such. MySpace will delete users whom we find to be younger than 14, or those misrepresenting their age.
* MySpace is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Tell your children they should avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find them, such as their local hangouts.
* Remind them not to post anything that could embarrass them later or expose them to danger. Although MySpace is public, teens sometimes think that adults can't see what they post. Tell them that they shouldn't post photos or info they wouldn't want adults to see.
* People aren't always who they say they are. Ask your children to be careful about adding strangers to their friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but members should be cautious when communicating with people they don't know. They should talk to you if they want to meet an online friend in person, and if you think it's safe, any meeting should take place in public and with friends or a trusted adult present.
* Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If your kids encounter inappropriate behavior, let them know that they can let you know, or they should report it to MySpace or the authorities.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Use Google Reader Send To Feature For Sharing Favorite Posts
If it was not for Google Reader, I probably would not be able to keep up with all web sites on a daily basis. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is really the only way to quickly surf the web.
Being able to list all the sites content on one page allows me to quickly scan headlines and read what interests me.
But one feature that has been visibly missing from Google Reader was the capability to send links to an email account or social bookmark or networking sites that I want to share.
Not any more.
Google has finally incorporated this function while allowing you to add additional sites not displayed in the default list.
Being able to list all the sites content on one page allows me to quickly scan headlines and read what interests me.
But one feature that has been visibly missing from Google Reader was the capability to send links to an email account or social bookmark or networking sites that I want to share.
Not any more.
Google has finally incorporated this function while allowing you to add additional sites not displayed in the default list.
MySpace Tips for Teens
MySpace and Seventeen Magazine recently partnered up to teach parents and teens how to stay safe online. We think that with a few helpful hints on safe Web practices, using the Internet can be a fun and meaningful experience.
Here are a few of our suggestions to teens:
1. Be Careful
You should never post personal information like your phone number, address, school, or where you regularly hang out. If you wouldn't share it with a creepy stranger on the street, don't post it on MySpace. Remember that the Internet is a public place and you should think about what you share.
2. Be Skeptical
We may have an idea of who someone is or why they're messaging us, but the truth is, when we're online we should be a little more skeptical. As you're connecting with people, get to know them first before adding them to your friends list. Only add people that as a friend if you are comfortable with them seeing your profile, checking out your friends and viewing your photos.
3. Be Picky
We all want to share funny things we've done with friends, but once you post something online it can live in cyberspace forever. Before you post an image or comment, take a minute to consider if it's something that might haunt you in a few years—imagine a potential boss or college recruiter is doing a search on you. Don't blow your opportunities for tomorrow just to be cute or outrageous today.
4. Be a Good Online Citizen
MySpace is a place where everyone should feel welcome. If you see hate speech or inappropriate content, or if you're being harassed by another user, talk to your parents and report it to MySpace immediately. Think of this as great, new neighborhood we ALL want to keep safe.
5. Be Real
MySpace is a community and you get out of it what you put in. Use common sense and think about what behavior is acceptable and what's not cool for the community. The more respectful you are to others, the better the site is for everyone. If you disrespect the community by posting fake profiles or lying about your age, you'll be removed—no exceptions.
Here are a few of our suggestions to teens:
1. Be Careful
You should never post personal information like your phone number, address, school, or where you regularly hang out. If you wouldn't share it with a creepy stranger on the street, don't post it on MySpace. Remember that the Internet is a public place and you should think about what you share.
2. Be Skeptical
We may have an idea of who someone is or why they're messaging us, but the truth is, when we're online we should be a little more skeptical. As you're connecting with people, get to know them first before adding them to your friends list. Only add people that as a friend if you are comfortable with them seeing your profile, checking out your friends and viewing your photos.
3. Be Picky
We all want to share funny things we've done with friends, but once you post something online it can live in cyberspace forever. Before you post an image or comment, take a minute to consider if it's something that might haunt you in a few years—imagine a potential boss or college recruiter is doing a search on you. Don't blow your opportunities for tomorrow just to be cute or outrageous today.
4. Be a Good Online Citizen
MySpace is a place where everyone should feel welcome. If you see hate speech or inappropriate content, or if you're being harassed by another user, talk to your parents and report it to MySpace immediately. Think of this as great, new neighborhood we ALL want to keep safe.
5. Be Real
MySpace is a community and you get out of it what you put in. Use common sense and think about what behavior is acceptable and what's not cool for the community. The more respectful you are to others, the better the site is for everyone. If you disrespect the community by posting fake profiles or lying about your age, you'll be removed—no exceptions.
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