Let’s move past the cob-webbed question, “is MySpace or Facebook safe?” It’s as impossible to answer that with a simple “yes” or “no” reply as it is for the question, “is it safe to walk down the street?” Because it depends.
Whether or not social networking is safe depends a lot on the person using it. Are they informed about how to make their account more private? Do they understand what activities get revealed to the public or to those in their network? What rights have they given up when they accepted the end user license agreement (EULA)? What are their objectives in “friending” new people? What is their intent in visiting and using the site?
It’s not simply being a minor that might make using social networks unsafe. If someone wishes to take risks, to share private information freely or to interact with strangers, they will be able to do that in social networks or in the corner grocery store or at school or on their walk down the street. Much of the concern raised by parents, educational experts and law enforcement focuses on protecting all children from any interaction with inappropriate strangers, namely convicted felons listed on the sex offender registry. Yet we know most kids are already aware of the need to block or not chat with the online stranger and easily gain the skill to manage it. The research indicates that the kids who get into trouble online (in social networks and on other sites) are typically those whose “at risk” factors cause them to seek inappropriate connections.
Experts in the field are growing increasingly concerned that attention paid to preventing this form of contact is preventing other forms of child protection from being explored. It would seem we aren’t doing enough to identify the “at risk” kids who take those undo risks, both online and off. Larry Magid of CNET and CBS Radio posted a strong blog entry today detailing this concern.
For a concerned parent like me, I can’t wait for someone else to protect my children when they use social networks. I know that Facebook, MySpace, MyYearbook and the others are great tools to help my children stay connected with friends near and far. I also know that without guidance, some children are being bullied, frightened and harassed by those whom the rest of the world would identify as their “friends”. Make sure you show your kids how to configure their site to be safe and private. Remind them to only add people they really know. Show them what appears about them in online searches or on the social network site when you aren’t logged in as their friend. Ask that they add you as their friend so you can stay in touch, too.
I don’t mean to say there aren’t risks online from sexual predators. Sadly, some children will seek inappropriate relationships with online predatory adults. Statistically speaking though, your child is far more likely to be cyberbullied or to damage their reputation through their own online actions. I’d suggest those issues represent a far better place to start showing your parental concern and involvement than in contributing to our society’s cognitive distortion about social networks.