Social Networks: Keeping it Safe
Social Networking is the ability to communicate, collaborate and socialize with virtually anyone via social networkign sites such as twitter and Facebook.
Social networks
Social networking can be an amazing way for students to access information all across the globe. It provides students new opportunities to collaborate and communicate in ways never before possible. However, it is important that prior to implementing social networking as a part of the daily curriculum, students and their families are taught how to use social networking appropriately and safely. Just because it is out there in the Cyber-world, does not mean it is safe or accurate. Students, parents and teachers need to know how to participate with discretion! This should be the main priority above all else.
Legal Safety issues
As much as global society has been brought together by social networking, it has also lead to the birth of new legal and safety concerns. The primary safety concerns that result from social networking include: cyber crime, geo-location identification, child protection, behavior tracking and character defamation.
Cybercrimes have become the new wave of thievery where criminals target social networking sites in an effort to gather personal information to gain access to personal information which they can use for their benefit. It is important to keep the amount of personal information that is posted, to a very small minimum. Geo-location, refers to the fact that predators can find you by following or accessing the GPS locator. Many phones and computer programs have settings to disable this feature. Even if you disable the GPS, your geo-location can still be made vulnerable by people who track your on-line purchasing activity. Child protection is a serious concern. Many minor's participate in social networking and post pictures and personal information that is used by predators and criminals to hunt children down and/or write negative comments about them. Character defamation, means that everyone must be aware that ANYTHING you post on a social networking site is available for the public to scrutinize. This can impact employment
Cybercrimes have become the new wave of thievery where criminals target social networking sites in an effort to gather personal information to gain access to personal information which they can use for their benefit. It is important to keep the amount of personal information that is posted, to a very small minimum. Geo-location, refers to the fact that predators can find you by following or accessing the GPS locator. Many phones and computer programs have settings to disable this feature. Even if you disable the GPS, your geo-location can still be made vulnerable by people who track your on-line purchasing activity. Child protection is a serious concern. Many minor's participate in social networking and post pictures and personal information that is used by predators and criminals to hunt children down and/or write negative comments about them. Character defamation, means that everyone must be aware that ANYTHING you post on a social networking site is available for the public to scrutinize. This can impact employment
Tips for Educators
~ Honor your school sites internet policies
~ Continually talk to the kids and monitor on-line activity
~Teach and encourage on-line manners
~Remind students that negative on-line actions do have consequences
~Make sure their on-line access is limited
~ Continually talk to the kids and monitor on-line activity
~Teach and encourage on-line manners
~Remind students that negative on-line actions do have consequences
~Make sure their on-line access is limited
Tips for Parents
~Be sure that your child knows how to report abuse ( see resources)
~Have discussions with your child, research shows that when families discuss social networking behavior their children behave safer on-line
~ Be sure that your child knows how to report abuse ( see resources)
~Have discussions with your child, research shows that when families discuss social networking behavior their children behave safer on-line
~ Be sure that your child knows how to report abuse ( see resources)
Tips for Students/Children
~Never list your phone number
~Report negative behavior immediately: You can block people from leaving messages on your profile and report to website administrators
~Learn how to use the child safety 'panic button'( see resources). Many social networking websites including Facebook and Bebo offer the ClickCeop icon to address uncomfortable activity.
~Report negative behavior immediately: You can block people from leaving messages on your profile and report to website administrators
~Learn how to use the child safety 'panic button'( see resources). Many social networking websites including Facebook and Bebo offer the ClickCeop icon to address uncomfortable activity.
Resources for Support
~WiredSafety.org (provides research information on social networking)
~http://us.mcafee.com/en-us/local/docs/SocialNetworkinge-guide.pdf
~ClickCEOP app( this is available via the fan page on facebook)
[email protected]
~http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/social_networking/ ( lesson plans and activities on social networking)
~http://us.mcafee.com/en-us/local/docs/SocialNetworkinge-guide.pdf
~ClickCEOP app( this is available via the fan page on facebook)
[email protected]
~http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/social_networking/ ( lesson plans and activities on social networking)
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