Just why do we need to think before we post and text? A logical question your kids may be asking you. Here's a possible answer: because... online socializers and media sharers have invisible audiences those audiences could be small or huge (tough to tell) those readers, viewers, friends, acquaintances, potential ex-friends and employers can copy, paste, do just about anything they want with our … [Read more...] about The Net effect
Risk & Safety
Digital body art
A great metaphor for the Net effect on digital natives' lives is used by the University of British Columbia, which has a whole Web site about the "digital tattoo," with a tutorial on how to "Protect," "Connect," "Learn," and "Work" with the Net effect. Here's how UBC explains it: "Just like a tattoo, your digital reputation is an expression of yourself. It's highly visible, and hard to remove. … [Read more...] about Digital body art
JuicyCampus: Good bye, good riddance
Citing tough economic times as the reason, gossip site JuicyCampus has shut down. "I'm not shedding any tears for [founder Matt Ivester, who made the announcement]," my ConnectSafely co-director Larry Magid writes at CBSNEWS.com. "What he refers to as 'lighthearted gossip of college life' was, in many situations, vicious innuendos, hateful messages, and downright lies. In covering the site ... I … [Read more...] about JuicyCampus: Good bye, good riddance
Pact for solid social Web safety measures in Europe
This is timely news for global Safer Internet Day (today): 17 social-media companies across Europe have struck a deal with the European Commission to put in place safeguards for young social networkers by April, The Guardian reports. US-based Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube are among the signatories. [Brief editorial comment: this is much more viable an agreement than trying to impose age … [Read more...] about Pact for solid social Web safety measures in Europe
Teen’s alleged online sex scam
Of course the worst news gets the most coverage - more than 500 news outlets in the US, Canada, UK, New Zealand, India, Australia, and Bosnia Herzegovina, among other countries, turned up in a Google News search on this. But there is something to be learned even from this sex extortion story about an 18-year-old in Wisconsin, described by a "shocked" friend to a Wisconsin radio station as a … [Read more...] about Teen’s alleged online sex scam