I am sure that no one could have imagined that social media sites would turn into a place where teenagers throw morality out the window in exchange for a digital hug, or a meeting place for organized crime. Yet, every day a quick Google news search relays stories about just those types of stories and more. A most recent story discussed how Facebook was the site used by 200 or so teens that decided to physically fight at the town mall where pictures and videos were taken and then shared on other websites such as YouTube. Point-Click-Share
I am both shocked and upset at the lack of responsibility in stories such as this. It’s not hard to imagine that large websites have some millions (if not billions) of messages, images and videos to scan for appropriateness and then its not hard to imagine that if all 200 kiddos had phones with internet capabilities, just how fast they are able to post. However, as a parent, I have to worry. If in the event my children and I were present at a mall and this happened, I am not sure where that would leave me. Would I stand there and watch horrified? Would I be one of many that ran for cover? Would I attempt to break any of them up? What about my own children? Young teenaged boys, someone could have mistaken them for participants. The questions just don’t end for me.
How about parents? Organizing such a large event to be taken place had to have taken some time and effort. Of those 200 kids, how many of them posted the information on Facebook? How many of their parents were their child’s friend on Facebook and how many of them were aware? Should the parents be held liable? After all, the parents gave them the access to the site by giving them access to home computers, cell phones and personal devices. I shudder to think about how this isn’t the first time Facebook or Twitter type sites have been used for arranging such activities and I shudder to think of how little parents know about social networking sites.
Know your networks and what is possible. What can be shared and with what limitations and who’s moderating the content?
Facebook – Images, videos, instant messages, emails, personal information, support for specific activities and sites, minute to minute sharing of content.
Moderation of Content – Peer reporting.
Twitter – Images, videos, private messages, personal information, support for specific activities and sites, minute to minute sharing of content.
Moderation of Content – Peer reporting.
YouTube – Videos, private messages, personal information, support for specific activities and sites, minute to minute sharing of content.
Moderation of Content – Peer reporting.
MySpace – Images, videos, private messages, personal information, support for specific activities and sites, minute to minute sharing of content.
Moderation of Content – Peer reporting.
Just a few sites, but monitoring is important folks. No one wants to hinder anyone else’s privacy, which is the typical argument for monitoring digital activities, but if someone had been aware and notified officials, then perhaps some of this could have been prevented. Or if social networking sites had filters in place that caught the language and images that were shared, the site wouldn’t have been able to be used as an organization spot. Children are being hurt and parents possibly being charged for the damages their children have caused. Additionally, what about the bystanders that were or could have been hurt?
Know your networks and their networks. Know their activity and until social networking sites move in the direction of strict child protection, then use what tools are out there for monitoring activities.
Mall of America boosting security following violence Monday
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: December 27, 2011 – 11:01 AM
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/136262693.html
It’s as easy as EyeGuardian for Facebook……….
Your EyeGuardian for Facebook Teammate, Stephy
