Myspace Bolsters Security

What's this, Myspace.com is making some changes. According to a Washington Post Article, Myspace.com plans on making several security changes. I was just stating in my last posting, just hours ago, that Myspace needs to make some security changes, and look they are. We'll see if these changes help. Read the article and let me know if you think these changes will work or not and why.

Myspace being sued again!

An article on the ABC news website states that, the website Myspace.com is being sued by a Texas woman because her 14 year old daughter was sexually assaulted by a 19 year old man, whom she met through Myspace. My question here is who's at fault here? Should Myspace be taking stronger measures towards security? Where should the parents’ responsibility lie? I think that it's both. Myspace needs to take a look at setting up a way to verify age in order to have a site. More so though, I feel parents really need to take more responsibility for knowing what their children are doing on the Internet. Let me know what you think.

My First Podcast

Self discussion on Wisconsin DPI standards and internet safety.

Internet Safety Podcast

Recently I have downloaded the Apple i-tunes software to use to search out other forms of information regarding internet safety, namely podcasts. I have subscribed to a few free podcasts with one in particular (3DWiredSafety), being one of them. This podcast is put on by Art Wolinsky who is the Wiredsafety.org Educational Technology Director. The podcast I listened to involved the use and misuse of Myspace.com, a social arena for many teenagers. The podcast is titled "Is Myspace a Trainwreck?". Art talks about how teachers could use the misuses of Myspace as teachable moments, showing students the "what not to do's" of social blogging. 3DWiredSafety: Is MySpace a Train Wreck? I have provided the link for Arts blog which includes the podcast and written form of the podcast. Let me know what you think of some of his ideas.

Interesting Article

Here is an article (Miami Herald) about teens lying about their age on the internet. For me this article really drives home the point that we as educators need to teach our students about the proper uses of the internet and what some of the danger are when it's not used correctly. I have been to "Myspace" and have seen students, from the school I work at, lying about their age. Fourteen year old girls portraying themselves as twenty-four yearolds. Our students seem to feel as though they are invincible, untouchable on the internet, when in reality they aren't. Unfortunately, our students don't always believe these dangers until it really happens to them. But, if we can find real stories like the one found in this article, maybe our students will relate more because it is real life.

Good Links

The links I have postd to the right (my del.ciou.us) have tremendous value to parents, students, as well as teachers because of the great quality of information regarding safety and technology. I am on a search for other great sites to link to, so if any of you out there know of any please let me know.

What's your advice?

My advice to students regarding safety on the internet is to make sure they never divulge any personal information to strangers that may reveal who they really are and how they can be contacted. My advice to parents is to know the who, what, where and when of your child's internet usage. As well as educating yourself and your child as to what proper internet usage is. Mt advise to teachers is to educate, educate, educate our young people of the good , the bad and the ugly of todays internet. In addition, please view the websites listed on this blog and my social favorites list for any further information. Please post your best advice and/or internet sites for internet safety.

Class Discussion

Every Thursday morning our entire "pod" of students watches "Degrassi Junior High", which is a show for middle schoolers that covers tough issues like abuse, sex, bullying etc... Well this episode one of the mian characters descides to hitch hike to go see his real father. He gets picked up by a guy who begins to hit on him and drives them to a secluded location and tries to "make a move". The kid gets out of the car and escapes. The discomfort in the class could deffinitely be felt as the guy was reaching over to touch this kid. I could hear loud groans from all of the homerooms when this scene was happening. The rest of the teachers and I decided to have a little pod meeting at the end of the day to discuss what we saw and relate this guy in the car picking this kid up to the creeps on the internet in chatrooms picking up kids. I led the discussion and there was a strong message and I think it was taken very sreiously by the students.

My Voice...

With the last posting being my very first posting as a "blogger", I was unsure as to what my "voice" was going to be. Within the past few minutes I believe I have had an epiphany as to what I bleieve my influence could be on my readers. The focus of this blog is going to be
e-safety for kids, parents, teachers, schools and whomever wants to listen or learn someting about technological safety.