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Although social media is a great way to stay connected and up to date with friends, family, and the latest news, there are also a lot of negatives that come along with being so affixed in the online world. Over the past couple years, Facebook has really taken off in popularity with preteens and teens. In order to protect its members, there are a variety of settings to play around with in choosing privacy or publicity. Last week, Facebook opened the option to teens, ages 13 to 17, to share the information they post on their account with not only their “friends”, but everyone. In doing this, they’re trying to make teens aware of their choices. Upon making their account public, they receive both a notification and a reminder to make sure it’s a change they really want to make. I think this is a good idea because it’s just a first step in helping teens learn internet safety and maybe learn that although they’re “friends” with everyone on Facebook, it doesn’t mean they have to be in real life.
By allowing teenagers the ability to share their personal information and photos with everyone, it’s pushing them into the public world quicker. For some, this is their first experience in a public world. On the topic of “coming of age” and growing up, there is not one particular event or happening that causes anyone to go from a child to adult in a days length of time. Transitioning into adulthood and the public world is a gradual process and it’s crucial that teens learn to do so. Some parents are arguing about protection and privacy purposes. With everyone able to see Facebook, it’s exposing kids and could be dangerous. Parents need to learn the mechanisms of educating their children on internet safety.
Instead of sheltering teens from all risks, they’re saying it’s important to constructively fuse them into today’s culture. They want to not just provide teens with secure technology, but to provide the parents and teens with information about security with technology. I don’t think it is technology’s job to monitor what kids are saying and doing on the internet, it’s the parents' job. 
I completely agree that teens and kids can easily be exposed through not only Facebook, but many other social media outlets. For example, Facebook and Instagram allow its users to "check-in" where they are or where the pictures were taken.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that parents should be held responsible. Parents also need to be conscious of cyber bullying. With these new settings, it is almost inevitable.
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