The Truth Revealed: Part IV
Part IV: Why Kids And Teens Need An Alternative To Social Networking Sites Created by Adults For Adults
To Allow Our Kids To Participate In A Culture That: Allows Them To Stay Kids and Teens As Long As Possible
"Brand D" is the world's largest social media platform. I thoroughly enjoy utilizing the community for the purpose of reaching as many people as possible to share my knowledge about social media for kids and teens, as well as to spread the word. Become my friend:Mary Kay Hoal. My son in college has a Brand D page as well. We're not friends because as I've blogged about in the past, college is his time, and I don't want to be the 'mom posting on his wall'. We've talked about it and laughed that "when he's older we'll friend each other". Who knows.....my point is: as an adult, I enjoy being a Brand D member.
When it comes to minors, here's what we parents need to be consider about Brand D and our kids:
1. Would we allow our kids to walk around their school, at a football game, or down the street, wearing a shirt that proclaimed their "favorite sexual position" ? When our kids utilize popular adult-created "applications" (one of the main ways Brand D monetizes itself), such as these, and they're posted on their page, in essence we're sending our kids off to school, or to a public event wearing the shirt. Don't be fooled. Your child may not seek them out, but they're immersed in a community created by adults and for adults. These 'engagements' will come to them. They won't have to seek them out.
I'd much rather see our kids wearing: their sports team shirt, the club they belong to at school, their favorite brand or band; maybe the high school or college they would like to attend.
2. Quiz content: Does the world need to know if your child is feeling horny or not? Or How are they REALLY in bed? Kinky Naughty!! Should they even......be asked?! Do our kids need to be encouraged to create their own sex quizzes to share? I advocate for leaving the state of our kids libido private and not asked.
3. Brand D: NY State Attorney General Subpoenas Facebook Over Child Safety Concerns : 14-year old girl asked to send "nude pics" within a week of setting up a Brand D profile page ; Mr. Cuomo's office "set up profiles for a 13-year-old girl...adult who wrote to the teen, saying, 'You've got quite a hot little bod.'"; ...not as safe for teens as you might have thought.
4. Brand D: "Thousands of MySpace Sex Offender Refugees Found on Facebook" . My professional opinion is - John Cardillo - CEO of Sentine SAFE (sex offender software ) that the real number is 15 to 20 times that (120,000 - 160,000 sex offenders on Brand D). Users of Brand D have in fact created their own group: Get Child Molestors off Facebook. (Group Description: Sick and tired of child molesters being on Facebook? Voice your concerns, and useful suggestions! Let Yourself be heard! 13K+ members) Oct. 2009.
10.27.09: Excerpt from the "Get Child Molestors off Facebook" group: Janet _______, Child military sex offender (of 6 year old) on Facebook playing Farmville and Mafia Wars, among other games. Is your child playing online with sex offender with Noel S_______ C_______?
5. Applications that exploit your kids' privacy, personal information, and their friends, too. (Next time you get the request to participate, be SURE you check out what personal information is taken, shared, and expanded to include your friends. (Don't be the discerning adult, be the carefree kid we all have that excitingly engages with everything that hits their page..and click the application.)
6. Photo Policy: Bare breasts are okay on Brand D as long as the areola is covered. Ask yourself: Why wouldn't it be okay to send the same type of photo over a phone? Our kids have been trained that "it's okay" on social networking sites. Think about it.
Is there really a phenomenon going on with sexting? I don't think so. As I've said before, sexting is a natural progression from one media to another. If breasts are the status quo on the world's largest social networking site, why not the phone? If you want to change the behavior, change the culture.
7. Their mission: to be a safe place for corporate advertisers and upscale professionals. I want my kids participating in activities where their positive well being and safety comes first and not AFTER advertisers and upscale professionals. Don't you?
Tell me if you agree, or don't.
If you missed Part I , Part II , or PartIII, please check them out.
Oct
25
